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 situated in a prominent position on the
northern facing slope of the chalk hills, some 250m to the south of the
Royston Road (formerly the A10). The barrow mound measures 18m east to west
and 22m north to south, and survives to approximately 3m in height. The mound
is thought to have originally been circular in plan, however the profile of
the north eastern side shows evidence of later truncation which has removed
approximately 4m from the width. The steep sloping sides of the mound descend
from a small level area on the summit measuring approximately 8m in diameter.
The barrow, which is apparently unexcavated, forms part of a wider group of
similar monuments which extend across the eastern fringe of the Chiltern Hills
to the north and west of Royston. Many of the more conspicuous barrows were
investigated in the 19th century, including examples at Heath Farm, 2km to the
south, and Therfield Heath, 4km to the south west, and found to contain
archaeological remains dating to the Bronze Age.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
24424
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
