Bowl barrow 420m north west of Frogmore Farm

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 bowl barrow 420m north west of Frogmore Farm, although possibly partly excavated in the 19th century, will contain archaeological remains, providing information about Bronze Age burial practices, economy and environment.

Details

The monument includes the remains of a bowl barrow which lies on a gentle slope overlooking a shallow combe to the east. The barrow has been almost levelled by ploughing but survives as a low mound, c.17m in diameter and 0.2m high. There is no visible sign of the ditch surrounding the mound but this will survive as a buried feature c.2m wide. This may be the barrow which was opened by H Durden in the north west of the parish in 1864 when he found two skeletons and at least 12 urns, mostly inverted, containing cremations.

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:

27385

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Hutchins, , The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset: Volume 2, (1870), 604

End of official list entry

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