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. Despite some damage due to cultivation, much of the bowl barrow north-
east of Baltic Farm, particularly ditch deposits and the buried land
surface survives intact and has significant archaeological potential.
The presence of numerous other barrows and additional evidence for
contemporary settlement in the area of Bishop's Cannings Down provide
a clear indication of the intensity with which the area was settled
during the Bronze Age, further enhancing the importance of the monument.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow set above the floor of a dry valley
immediately north of Bishop's Cannings Down. The barrow mound stands
to 1m high and is 33m in diameter. It is visible both as an earthwork
and an area of lighter soil. Surrounding the barrow is a ditch from
which the mound material was quarried. This has become infilled over
the years but still survives as a low earthwork 5m wide and 0.1m deep. 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:
12194
Legacy System:
RSM
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