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.
Round barrow cemeteries of the Bronze Age (2000 - 700bc) comprise closely-
spaced groups of round barrows - rubble or earthen mounds covering single or
multiple burials. Most cemeteries developed over a considerable period of
time, often many centuries, and in some cases, as with this monument, they
acted as a focus for later burials. They exhibit considerable diversity of
burial rite, plan and form, frequently including several different types of
round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier long barrows. Round barrow
cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a marked concentration
in Wessex. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major historic
element in the modern landscape.
Only around 40 Anglo-Saxon barrow cemeteries are known nationally. They
comprise groups of small round mounds of earth and redeposited bedrock
constructed over primary burials of Anglo-Saxon date. The burials are usually
inhumations placed in graves dug into the underlying subsoil and covered with
the burial mound, sometimes with a surrounding ditch. They are typically found
on the crest or false crest of a hill, often on spurs. Barrow cemeteries have
been interpreted as burial places for people of high status.
Both Bronze Age and Anglo-Saxon barrows are sometimes associated with flat-
grave cemeteries. Where large-scale investigations have been undertaken,
Bronze Age "flat" graves have been revealed between and around Bronze Age
round barrows. Similarly, Anglo-Saxon barrow cemeteries are sometimes
associated with "flat" graves and are also found at the edges of Anglo-Saxon
flat-grave cemeteries.
The Bronze Age and the Anglo-Saxon barrow cemeteries south of Juggs Road are
well preserved examples of their kind and will contain important
archaeological remains and enviromental evidence relating to their development
and use and the landscape in which they were constructed.
Details
The monument is situated near the crest of a hill and includes four Bronze Age
bowl barrows, one oval mound and at least eighteen smaller burial mounds of
Anglo-Saxon date. The largest and most visible of the four bowl barrows
includes a mound approximately 1m high and 13m in diameter encircled by a now
infilled quarry ditch. The mound has a central hollow which is likely to be
the remains of a small excavation trench. The other three bowl barrows have
mounds about 0.5m high and 10m in diameter encircled by now infilled quarry
ditches.
The Anglo-Saxon barrows are circular or sub-rectangular bowl-shaped mounds,
generally ranging from about 3m - 5m in diameter and 0.3m - 0.5m in height. No
ditches are visible , although these may exist as infilled, below-ground
features. The oval mound, approximately 9m long, 5m wide and 0.5m high, may
also date to this period.
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.
