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.
The bowl barrow 800m south west of Hall Farm survives well in an area of
undisturbed heathland. The mound and the soils buried beneath it will contain
archaeological information concerning the construction of the barrow and the
manner and duration of its use, and will also preserve evidence for the local
environment at that time. It has additional interest as one of a group of
three sited in close proximity and in relation to other barrows within the
same locality which, as a group, have a broader significance for the study of
the character and distribution of the prehistoric population of the area.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow, prominently sited on a slight knoll above
a south facing scarp, overlooking the minor road between Rising Lodge and
Roydon. The barrow is visible as an earthen mound, standing to a height of
c.1.5m and covering a circular area c.30m in diameter. It is probable that
the mound is encircled by a ditch from which earth was dug during the
construction of the barrow, although this has become infilled and can no
longer be traced on the ground surface. It will, however, survive as a buried
feature. The barrow is the largest of a group of three; the other two lying
c.75m ENE and 65m east of it respectively are the subjects of separate
schedulings.
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.
