Bell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North 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.

The bell barrow forming part of the round barrow cemetery on North Down survives well despite some disturbance by cultivation, and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction and the landscape in which it was built.

Details

The monument includes a Bronze Age bell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North Down. The barrow lies at the western end of a group containing six barrows in all, including three bowl barrows and three bell barrows. All are situated in a slight natural trough, immediately north of the Devizes to Beckhampton road. The barrow mound measures 22.5m in diameter and stands up to 1.8m high. At its base there is a 3.5m wide berm which separates it from a quarry ditch from which material was obtained during its construction. This has become partially infilled over the years but is still visible to a depth of 0.4m in places, and is 3.2m across.

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:

21857

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:10000 Source Date: 1980 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: SU 06 NE
SU 06 NE 701, C.A.O., BELL BARROW, (1993)

End of official list entry

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