Bowl barrow 290m north east of sea mark, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Ashey Down

Reasons for Designation

Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They comprise closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows - rubble or earthen mounds covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries developed over a considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in some cases acted as a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period. They exhibit considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently including several different types of round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them, contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

Despite having been partially excavated, the bowl barrow 290m north east of sea mark is integral to the Ashey Down cemetery and will contain archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the cemetery and the landscape in which it was constructed.

Details

The monument includes a bowl barrow on the slope of a north facing hillside just below the crest of the hill, on the central upper chalk ridge of the Isle of Wight. The barrow forms part of a wider cemetery on Ashey Down barrow which includes 19 barrows. The barrow has a mound which measures 14m in diameter and is 0.75m high. Surrounding the mound is a ditch from which material was quarried during its construction. This ditch has become infilled over the years and can no longer be seen at ground level, but survives as a buried feature c.2m wide. The barrow has a central depression indicative of antiquarian investigation.

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.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

22054

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Drewett, P L, Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club in Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club, Vol. 27, (1970), 55-56
Grinsell, , Sherwin, , Proceedings of the I.O.W. Nat History and Archaeological Soc in Procedings of the I.O.W. Nat History and Archaeological Soc, Vol. 3, (1940), 208-209

End of official list entry

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