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.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow, known locally as Soldier's Hump, 150m
north east of Dunbury on the crest of Houghton South Down. The barrow has a
mound, formerly recorded as being c.11m in diameter and c.1.8m high. There is
a crater in the middle, c.7m in diameter and 1.8m deep, probably the result of
the excavation carried out in 1883 by J C Mansel-Pleydell. This revealed that
the mound was constructed of large flints. No burial was found even though the
mound was excavated to the natural surface. There is no surface indication of
the ditch surrounding the mound although this will survive as a buried feature
c.2m wide.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27381
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
