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
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 set below the crest of a steep north-
facing escarpment known as Inkpen Hill. The barrow mound is 25m in diameter
and survives to a height of 1.4m. Surrounding the mound is a ditch from which
material was quarried during the construction of the monument. This has
been partly infilled over the years but survives as an earthwork 5m wide
and 0.9m deep. The site was partially excavated in 1908. Finds included a
cremation burial set inside a stone cist or box and accompanied by three bone
implements, a bone needle and a bronze razor, all of which are believed to be
contemporary with the barrow mound.
The monument is part of a dispersed barrow cemetery comprising six barrows,
all within 200m of each other, set on and below the crest of Inkpen Hill.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
12230
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
