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 Bronze Age bowl barrow situated immediately to the
north of the A 1305, within the grounds of the National Stud.
The barrow mound is circular in plan with a rounded profile, measuring 16.5m
in diameter and surviving to a height of approximately 0.8m. The mound is
encircled by a ditch from which the material was quarried for its
construction. This feature is now largely buried, and remains visible only as
a very slight depression, 2m in width. The mound may have suffered some
disturbance as a result of being incorporated in an avenue of beech trees
planted in the early 19th century by Napoleonic prisoners of war. It is,
however, thought to remain unexcavated, unlike many upstanding barrows in the
region which were investigated by 19th century antiquarians. The barrow forms
part of a dispersed cemetery of similar monuments of which the nearest is at
Hare Park (3km to the south west and the subject of a separate scheduling).
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27170
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
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
