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 on Little Minterne Hill, 1km north east of
Minterne Parva Farm.
The barrow has been reduced in height by ploughing and is now no longer
visible on the surface. It was previously recorded as having a flinty mound
c.15m in diameter. Surrounding the mound is a quarry ditch from which
material was excavated during its construction. This has become infilled over
the years but survives as a buried feature c.2m wide.
The barrow is close to the current parish boundary although it was formerly in
Buckland Newton parish and is probably the `Scherdenberwe' mentioned in the
Anglo-Saxon Charter relating to Buckland Newton and reputed to date to AD 941.
Traces of ancient fields, visible as slight banks close to the barrow, have
been fragmented by cultivation and are not included in the scheduling.
All fence posts 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:
27444
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
