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 monument includes a bowl barrow which forms part of a group of ten
situated along two parallel NNW-SSE aligned Greensand ridges in the lee of
the Sussex Downs. The cemetery is formed by two linear groups of barrows, one
running along each ridge. The monument lies in the central area of the eastern
group, which consists of six barrows. It has a circular mound c.26m in
diameter and up to c.2m high, surmounted by a commemorative stone pillar
constructed in 1969. The mound is surrounded by a ditch from which material
used to construct the barrow was excavated. This has become infilled over the
years, but survives as a buried feature c.2m wide.
The cemetery was partly excavated in 1809, when cinerary urns and burnt human
bones were found.
The modern stone pillar, paving and fence situated within the monument are
excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27088
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
