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 two bowl barrows on the north west side of an elevated
sand and gravel plateau near the north east coast of the Isle of Wight with
views to the north over the Solent.
The barrows, which are aligned north west-south east, have mounds which
measure 35m and 45m in diameter and are c.1.25m and 0.5m high respectively.
Surrounding each mound is a ditch from which material was quarried during its
construction. These ditches have become infilled over the years and can no
longer be seen at ground level, but survive as buried features c.5m wide.
Air photographic evidence shows that the ditch of the north western barrow has
a clear break on its northern side. Both barrows have been partially
excavated; the north west barrow in 1992 and the south east barrow in 1985. A
base sherd of Deverel-Rimbury pottery, a flint implement and flint debitage
was recovered from the mound of the north western barrow. The south eastern
barrow produced burnt flint, flint debitage, a flint arrowhead, grooved ware
and grog tempered pottery amongst other finds.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22036
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
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
