Reasons for Designation
Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They comprise
closely-spaced groups of up to 30 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 acted as
a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period. They exhibit
considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently including
several different types of round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier
long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them,
contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been
revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a
marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other
important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst
their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
The five bowl barrows 100m north of Waypost Farm define part of a barrow
cemetery which is in an unusual location on clayey gravel. Barrows recorded
in neighbouring areas of the fen edge are sited on sands and gravel. Despite
having undergone some disturbance by ploughing, the barrows survive as
upstanding earthworks and will retain important archaeological information,
both in themselves and in relation to the cemetery as a whole. Evidence for
their construction and the manner and duration of their use, and for the local
environment prior to and during that time will be preserved in the base of the
mounds beneath the ploughsoil, in the soils buried beneath the mounds and in
the fill of buried ditches. In the area between the barrows, buried features,
such as `flat' burials, will contain further evidence relating to the use of
the cemetery and its development through time.
Details
The monument includes a group of five bowl barrows within a barrow cemetery,
located on a slight, south-facing slope on a spur of clayey gravel above the
fen north east of Ramsey. The barrows are visible as earthen mounds, each
standing to a height of c.0.5m and covering a circular area c.25m in diameter.
The mounds have been reduced and spread by ploughing. It is probable that
they are encircled by ditches from which earth was dug and used in the
construction of the barrows, but which have now become infilled. If so, these
will survive as buried features. The barrows occupy a roughly triangular area
with maximum dimensions of 160m north east - south west by 108m. One barrow
lies at the south western end of the triangle, with two more in alignment ENE
of it, at intervals of c.43m. The fourth and fifth barrows are situated
respectively c.35m and c.52m north west of the second two, and c.50m NNE and
110m north east of the first. Some manufactured flint flakes and rough cores
have been found in the ploughsoil on and around the barrows.
A further two barrows which formed part of the same original cemetery are the
subject of a separate scheduling 300m to the north west.
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.
