Three round barrows 500m WNW of Flowerdown House

Reasons for Designation

The Flower Down barrows contain examples of both disc and bowl barrows. The disc barrow, once described as `the finest disc barrow in Hampshire', is an exceptionally well preserved example of the most fragile type of round barrow. Disc barrows are funerary monuments of the Early Bronze Age, with most examples dating to the period 1400-1200BC. They were constructed as a circular or oval area of level ground defined by a bank and internal ditch and containing one or more central or eccentrically located small, low mounds, covering burials, usually in pits. The burials, normally cremations, are frequently accompanied by pottery vessels, tools and personal ornaments. It has been suggested that disc barrows were normally used for the burial of women, although this remains unproven. However, it is likely that the individuals buried were of high status. Disc barrows are rare nationally with about 250 examples known, many from Wessex. Their richness in terms of grave goods provides important evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst prehistoric communities over a wide area of southern England. All examples are considered worthy of protection. Bowl barrows, of which the Flowers Down barrows contain two examples of greatly differing scale, are the most numerous form of round barrow with over 10,000 examples recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occuring over most of lowland Britain. They are funerary monuments dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 2400-1500BC. Bowl barrows were constructed as mounds of earth or rubble, sometimes with a surrounding ditch, and which covered single or multiple burials. They occur either in isolation or, as with this monument, associated with barrows of differing type. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of preservation. Despite evidence for some disturbance of two of the three barrows, the Flowers Down Barrows will provide evidence of funerary practices which may span several centuries within the Early Bronze Age. Their construction and use provides information concerning the diversity of beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities while their structure will preserve evidence of both past environment and economy.

Details

The monument includes a disc barrow and two bowl barrows, burial sites of Bronze Age date, aligned broadly north east-south west and situated on the crest of a ridge. The disc barrow, which is at the north east of the monument, has a circular flat platform 28m in diameter, on which lie two low circular mounds. The central mound is 7m in diameter, 0.4m high and has a 2.5m diameter central hollow. The second mound, which lies to the south west of centre, is 6m in diameter and 0.3m high. The platform on which the mounds lie is bounded by a continuous circular ditch 7m wide and 0.6m deep with an external bank 6.5m wide and 0.7m high. The larger of the two bowl barrows is on the south west side of the monument. It has a circular mound, 20m in diameter and 1m high, with a central hollow 4.5m in diameter and 0.4m deep. The smaller bowl barrow abuts the outer edge of the disc barrow bank and has a low, roughly circular mound 8m in diameter and 0.3m high. Although both the disc and the larger bowl barrow show signs of past investigation in the form of disturbance to their central areas, there are no records of excavation. The monument is the Guardianship of the Secretary of State. Excluded from the scheduling are all fence posts, although the ground beneath these features is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

26702

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Williams-Freeman, JP, Introduction to field archaeology as illustrated by Hampshire, (1915), 248
Grinsell, L V, Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club in Hampshire Barrows, Vol. 14, (1940), 218-219

End of official list entry

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