Reasons for Designation
Bell barrows, the most visually impressive form of round barrow, are funerary
monuments dating to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, with most examples
belonging to the period 1500-1100 BC. They occur either in isolation or in
round barrow cemeteries and were constructed as single or multiple mounds
covering burials, often in pits, and surrounded by an enclosure ditch. The
burials are frequently accompanied by weapons, personal ornaments and pottery
and appear to be those of aristocratic individuals, usually men. Bell barrows
(particularly multiple barrows) are rare nationally, with less than 250 known
examples, most of which are in Wessex. Their richness in terms of grave goods
provides evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst early
prehistoric communities over most of southern and eastern England as well as
providing an insight into their beliefs and social organisation. As a
particularly rare form of round barrow, all identified bell barrows would
normally be considered to be of national importance.
The bell barrow 450m ESE of Anmer Farm is one of up to seven which have
been identified in north west Norfolk and is unusual within this class of
monument in that it includes an outer ditch. Although approximately a third
of the mound appears to have been removed, the greater part of the monument
survives well and will retain archaeological information concerning the
construction of the barrow and the manner and duration of its use. Evidence
for the local environment at that time is also likely to be preserved in soils
buried beneath the mound and the bank and in the fill of ditch. The barrow has
additional interest in relation to the other round barrows of various types in
the vicinity which, as a group, have a wider significance for the study of the
character and distribution of the prehistoric population of the area.
Details
The monument includes a bell barrow situated on level ground near the western
edge of the Good Sands upland region of north west Norfolk. The barrow stands
500m west of Peddars Way and is the northernmost of a dispersed group of round
barrows aligned on a north west to south east axis over a distance of c.2.6km.
It is visible as a sub-circular earthen mound surrounded by a berm and
ditch and a low external bank, and has an overall diameter of c.66m. The mound
at the centre stands to a height of c.1.3m and covers an area with a maximum
diameter of c.27m north east to south west by c.17m north west to south east,
having been partly levelled on the south east side. Where the mound is intact,
on the north west side, the surrounding berm is c.1.5m wide, and on the south
east side, the distance between the foot of the mound and the inner edge of
the ditch is c.9m. The ditch, from which earth was dug and used in the
construction of the barrow, has become partly infilled and measures c.10m in
width and up to 0.7m deep, although shallower to the south east. The bank
which encircles the whole is c.0.25m high and has an average width of c.8m.
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.
