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.
Details
The monument includes a round barrow cemetery situated on the floodplain of
the River Thames at Cock Marsh, 1km west of Bourne End. The cemetery
comprises four bowl barrows, all of which survive as earthworks. The
northernmost barrow (SU88658706) has a maximum diameter of 25m and survives
to a height of 0.5m. A ditch, c.3m wide and from which mound material was
quarried, surrounds the mound surviving as a buried feature. The mound at
SU88638700 has been truncated on its western side by the construction of a
drainage ditch and, subsequently, by ploughing. The eastern side survives to
a maximum diameter of 40m from north to south and stands to a height of 1m.
The ditch is clearly visible around the eastern side of the mound, surviving
to a width of 5m and a depth of up to 0.5m. The barrow at SU88708700 has a
diameter of 30m and survives to a height of 2m, while the southernmost
barrow (SU88738693) is 35m in diameter and 0.75m high. Both mounds are
surrounded by ditches c.3m wide. Neither ditch is visible at ground level
although both survive as buried features. The cemetery has maximum
dimensions of 160m from north-south and 90m from east-west.
All four barrows were partially excavated between 1874 and 1877. Finds
included a cremation burial in a stone cist, flint tools, pottery and animal
bones. In addition a later Saxon inhumation was found in one of the mounds.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
12072
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
