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.
Details
The Gittisham Hill barrow cemetery is situated in south east Devon, 8km
south of Honiton, on the high ground of an extensive Greensand plateau where
it forms the watershed of the south-flowing River Sid. The monument includes a
single bowl barrow situated within an area of heathland, on the east side of
Gittisham Hill.
The barrow consists of a substantial mound of evenly rounded profile, 40m in
diameter and c.3.5m in height, surrounded by a ditch 4m wide and up to 0.5m
deep, visible on the west, north and east sides. The mound has been subject to
a number of later disturbances. The lower slope of the mound is circumscribed
by a shallow trench, 1m wide and c.0.4m deep, with an upcast bank, 1m wide, on
its outer side. This feature was observed in 1880 when the trench is reported
to have contained a hedge enclosing the mound from the surrounding heath. On
the west and north sides small pits have been dug into the mound from the
inner side of the trench. On the top of the mound and towards its north side
there is a large steep-sided conical pit, 4m in diameter and 2m deep,
surrounded by a bank of upcast soil. On the north west side of the mound and
inside the circuit of the circular trench, another short trench, 3m long, 2m
wide and c.1m deep, has been dug radially into the mound. There are no records
of the barrow being subject to archaeological investigation.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27404
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
