Reasons for Designation
Bowl barrows, the most numerous form of round barrow, are funerary monuments
dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most
examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC. They were constructed as
earthen or rubble mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered single or multiple
burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as cemeteries and often
acted as a focus for burials in later periods. Often superficially similar,
although differing widely in size, they exhibit regional variations in form
and a diversity of burial practices. There are over 10,000 surviving bowl
barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring
across most of lowland Britain. Often occupying prominent locations, they are
a major historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable
variation of form and longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisations amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow which is one of a number of barrows
situated on the crest of Acklam Wold.
Although altered at its perimeter by agricultural activity and by its use as
the site of a concrete trig point, the barrow survives as a mound 0.5m high
and 18m in diameter. A ditch 18m in diameter surrounds the mound and,
although the ditch has become buried by gradual spreading of the mound
material, it has been identified on aerial photographs. The barrow was
recorded and partially excavated in 1855 by W Proctor of the York Antiquarian
Club and in 1878 by J R Mortimer; Mortimer discovered two adult burials in
separate shallow graves.
The concrete pillar of the trig point is excluded from the scheduling but the
ground beneath it is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20548
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
