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.
Stockbridge Down is one of few surviving areas of undisturbed chalk downland
in Wessex and contains a range of generally well preserved archaeological
features. A survey of the area has confirmed the survival of prehistoric round
barrows, linear earthworks and field systems all to the south of the Iron Age
hillfort of Woolbury.
The larger of the two bowl barrows 200m north east of Green Place Cottage is a
well preserved example of its class. Despite some erosion caused by burrowing
animals the barrow exhibits a largely original profile with a pronounced ditch
surrounding the mound. The visual appearance of the mound suggests some small
scale excavation in the past but, despite this, archaeological remains will
survive
providing information about Bronze Age burial practices, economy and
environment.
The smaller barrow is a rare survival of a particularly vulnerable type of
round barrow. Despite the disturbance caused by the insertion of the
electricity supply pole, archaeological remains will survive.
The monument is situated within an area of unrestricted public access.
Details
The monument includes two bowl barrows, aligned south west-north east, forming
part of a dispersed group of round barrows situated to the south of Woolbury
hillfort on the southern slopes of Stockbridge Down. The monument lies
approximately 20m north of the A272 Stockbridge to Winchester road.
The larger of the two barrows is a ditched bowl barrow, the mound of which is
16m in diameter and 1m high. Traces of disturbance caused by an unrecorded
antiquarian excavation are visible on the south side of the mound. The mound
is surrounded by a ditch 3m wide and 0.3m deep from which material to
construct the mound was quarried. This is most pronounced on the north, east
and west sides. Ten metres to the ENE of the outer edge of the ditch of this
barrow lies a smaller barrow. The mound of this barrow is a maximum of 9m in
diameter and no more than 0.3m high. Although there are no visible traces, a
ditch will survive as a buried feature approximately 2m wide.
Excluded from the scheduling is the electricity supply pole which surmounts
the north east mound, although the ground beneath it is included.
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.
