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 the earthwork and buried remains of a Bronze Age bowl
barrow located 158m above sea level on arable land c.400m WSW of Mount
Pleasant. Although the mound, which is c.25m in diameter, has been degraded by
ploughing, it still stands to a height of 0.5m where it has been protected by
the field boundary which crosses its northern extremity. The degraded portion
of the mound is clearly visible as a soil mark in the field to the south. The
ditch from which material for the construction of the mound was quarried
cannot be seen but is thought to survive buried beneath the present ground
surface.
The monument is situated within 450m of High Street, which follows the route
of a prehistoric trackway. The Neolithic long barrow at Top Buildings to the
south east (scheduled separately) is similarly aligned with High Street and
further prehistoric burial mounds have been documented along the same stretch
of highway.
Two other bowl barrows within 100m of the monument which have been revealed by
aerial photography in the field to the north are the subjects of separate
schedulings.
The field boundary fence and fenceposts are excluded from the scheduling
although the ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27893
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
