Three round barrows 100m north west of Andover Lodge: part of a round barrow cemetery in Barrow Field Clumps, Cholderton Park

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.

Two of the three round barrows north west of Andover Lodge in Cholderton Park are well preserved examples of their class and, despite some past erosion, exhibit a largely original profile. All three barrows will contain archaeological remains providing information about Bronze Age burial practices, economy and environment.

Details

The monument includes two Bronze Age bowl barrows and the levelled remains of a further Bronze Age round barrow, part of a cemetery containing at least 12 round barrows which lie on level ground close to the Andover Lodge of Cholderton Park. The barrows lie in an approximately east-west line to the north west of the lodge. The most westerly barrow has a circular mound 26m in diameter and approximately 1m high, crossed on its south western side by a track. Traces of a ditch from which material was quarried during construction of the barrow can be seen on the west side of the mound. The central barrow has a circular area, 37m in diameter, marking the former position of the barrow mound, surrounded by a ditch, approximately 4m wide. An earthwork reconstruction of a disc barrow has been superimposed on the site of this barrow. The most easterly barrow has a circular mound, 17m in diameter and 0.8m high. Excluded from the scheduling are all fence posts and the metalled surface of the track, although the ground beneath these features 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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

26735

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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