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 located on sloping ground 250m south west
of Ashridge Farm. It consists of a barrow mound 20m in diameter and c.1m
high at its highest point. The southern side of the barrow mound has been
levelled by road construction. Encroachment on the barrow mound by
cultivation has exposed part of the stone kerb which surrounded the mound, the
largest stone of which is 2m in length. Although no longer visible at ground
level a ditch, from which material was quarried during the construction of the
monument surrounds the barrow mound. This has become infilled over the years
but survives as a buried feature c.3m in width. The barrow was partially
excavated in 1966 by D.J.Tomalin. Finds included a cremation burial beneath
a ceramic urn which was found to be later than the construction of the
monument.
The road and a drystone wall which cross the barrow mound are excluded from
the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13875
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
