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. Their ubiquity and their tendency to occupy
prominent locations makes them 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 organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. They are
particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion
of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.
Although this example has been spread during sylvicultural activity, it
still retains significant archaeological potential since the crucial
areas such as the old ground surface survive undisturbed. This is also
one of a group of similar monuments in West Wood which demonstrate the
importance of the area for burials in the Bronze Age.
Details
This barrow lies at the southern end of West Wood some 30m north-east of
its nearest neighbour. The monument includes a low bowl barrow which
comprises an earthen mound 16m across and at most 0.4m high, and an
encircling ditch which has been completely infilled by erosion of the
mound.
The mound and ditch together have a diameter of 20m. MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
12816
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Spurrell, F, 'Arch Journal' in Arch Journal, , Vol. 40, (1883), 292Other Darvill, T, MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Bowl Barrows (1988), (1988)
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.
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