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 the two south westernmost bowl barrows 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 at the SSE end of the western
group, which consists of four barrows. The largest barrow of the pair lies to
the south east and has a roughly circular mound 29m in diameter and c.2m high,
with an uneven top indicating past part excavation. 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 will survive as a buried feature
c.3m wide.
Lying c.10m to the north west, the second barrow has a mound c.9m in diameter
and c.0.3m high surrounded by an infilled quarry ditch c.1m wide. The cemetery
was partly excavated in 1809, when cinerary urns and burnt human bones were
found.
The modern fence which crosses the monument is excluded from the scheduling,
although the ground beneath it is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27084
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
