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.
Despite partial excavation and limited plough damage this barrow survives
reasonably well. It will retain significant information on its original form
and evidence of the burials placed within it.
Details
The monument includes a Bronze Age round barrow, and is one of a group of
barrows in this area of the Yorkshire Wolds. The barrow mound, which is
rounded and spread by ploughing, is 1.75m high and has a diameter of 35m.
Although no longer visible at ground level, a ditch, from which material was
excavated during the construction of the monument, surrounds the barrow mound.
This has become in-filled over the years but survives as a buried feature 4m
in width. The barrow mound was partially excavated by the Yorkshire
Antiquarian Club in 1849, and by J R Mortimer in 1882. During his
investigations, Mortimer found the skeleton of an adult, a cremated child, and
a number of worked flints.
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.