Reasons for Designation
Long mounds are Neolithic monuments dating to the period 3000-2000 BC. They
take the form of a bank of earth and/or stone, rectangular in plan and
characteristically low and uniform in height, generally flanked on either side
by a quarry ditch. Long mounds can vary from 40m-140m in length, although they
are often within the range 90m-100m. Where excavated, pottery and flintwork
have been found within the mound material and, in some cases, pits containing
animal bones and charcoal exist beneath the mound. There is no evidence for
the presence of human remains, but some long mounds are known to be situated
close to contemporary funerary monuments such as passage graves and long
mortuary enclosures. In addition, some were later developed into long barrows
while others are associated with later round barrow cemeteries, and this may
indicate the persistence of a funerary tradition.
Only eight long mounds have been identified and these have a wide distribution
across England, with examples known in Dorset, Gloucestershire,
Northamptonshire, Staffordshire, Humberside and North Yorkshire.
As one of the few types of Neolithic monument to survive as earthworks, and on
account of their considerable rarity, age and longevity as a monument class,
all long mounds are considered to be of national importance.
The long mound 860m NNE of Whatcombe House survives comparatively well
and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the
monument and the landscape in which it was constructed. A second long mound is
situated a short distance to the south, making this one of very few examples
where two long mounds are found together.
Details
The monument includes a long mound situated below the crest of a north facing
chalk ridge of the South Dorset Downs, overlooking the South Winterbourne
valley. The long mound is one of a pair situated on the south western part of
Black Down, around which a cemetery containing a total of twelve round barrows
later developed during the Bronze Age; ten of these round barrows now survive.
The long mound has a mound composed of earth, chalk and flint, orientated
north west by south east with maximum dimensions of 90m in length, 15m in
width and c.0.6m in height. Flanking either side of the mound is a ditch from
which material was quarried during its construction. These are visible as
slight earthworks 1.5m-2m wide at the eastern end; elsewhere they have become
infilled, but will survive as buried features.
Excluded from the scheduling are all fence posts relating to the modern field
boundaries, although the underlying ground 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.
