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.
The most westerly of the two bowl barrows 200m south of Laundry Bungalows is a
well preserved example of its class. Although the ditch can no longer be seen
as a surface feature, the barrow exhibits a largely original profile and will
contain archaeological remains providing information about Bronze Age burial
practices, economy and environment.
Despite truncation of the mound, the less well preserved example will still
contain significant archaeological remains.
Details
The monument includes two bowl barrows, aligned broadly east-west, the most
easterly of a small linear group of barrows which lie on a gentle south facing
slope to the south of Cholderton Park.
The best preserved, most westerly of the two barrows has a mound 20m in
diameter and 1.5m high. Surrounding this, and surviving as a buried feature
c.2m wide, is the barrow ditch from which material to construct the mound was
quarried.
To the east of this lie the remains of a second bowl barrow, the mound of
which has been truncated and is now oval, measuring 13m (east-west) by 8m and
1.5m high. This mound will also be surrounded by a ditch c.2m wide.
Excluded from the scheduling is the metalled surface of the road, although
the ground beneath it 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.
