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.
Details
The monument includes a ditched bowl barrow 800m NNE of Gore Farm on Melbury
Down. The barrow lies in a prominent position below the crest of the hill and
overlooking the valley to the north. The barrow has a mound 15m in diameter
and 1.3m high. The mound is surrounded by a ditch, 2m wide and 0.3m deep,
which is visible on all but its south side. Beyond this is a short length of
an outer bank, c.2m wide and 0.2m high, visible on the downhill north west
side of the barrow ditch. There is a depression in the centre of the mound
which may represent an unrecorded antiquarian excavation. Excluded from the
scheduling are all fence posts, although the ground beneath these is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27347
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
