Reasons for Designation
A small number of areas in southern England appear to have acted as foci for
ceremonial and ritual activity during the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age
periods. Two of the best known and earliest recognised, with references in the
17th century, are around Avebury and Stonehenge, now jointly designated as a
World Heritage Site. In the Avebury area, the henge monument itself, the West
Kennet Avenue, the Sanctuary, West Kennet long barrow, Windmill Hill
causewayed enclosure and the enigmatic Silbury Hill are well-known. Whilst the
other Neolithic long barrows, the many Bronze Age round barrows and other
associated sites are less well-known, together they define one of the richest
and most varied areas of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial and ritual
monuments in the country. Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age
(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 and occasionally associated
with earlier long barrows. Where investigation beyond the round barrows has
occurred, contemporary or later `flat' burials between the barrow mounds have
often been revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland
England with a marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases they are
clustered around other important contemporary monuments, as is the case both
here and at Stonehenge. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major
historic element in the modern landscape, while their diversity and their
longevity as a monument type provide important information on the variety of
beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. All
examples are considered worthy of protection.
Despite having been reduced by cultivation, the bowl barrow west of East
Kennett long barrow survives as a visible earthwork and part excavation has
demonstrated that it contains archaeological and environmental evidence
relating to the cemetery and the landscape in which it was built.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow, situated 120m west of East Kennett long
barrow. It forms part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery which is clustered
around the earlier Neolithic monument and includes at least five barrows. This
is one of a number of cemeteries located on the Downs south of Avebury.
The barrow has a mound which has been reduced and spread by cultivation but
survives as a visible earthwork 33m in diameter and up to 0.5m high.
Surrounding the original extent of the mound is a 2.5m wide quarry ditch from
which material was obtained during its construction. This survives as a buried
feature below the spread of mound material and the modern ground level.
The barrow was partly excavated in 1840 when a crouched skeleton was found,
accompanied by a beaker, a bronze dagger and a perforated stone axe. The
excavation also demonstrated that the barrow was constructed of a sarsen cairn
covered in chalk rubble and turf.
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.
