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. The bowl barrow 330m east of Beacon Moor Cross survives comparatively well
and contains archaeological and environmental information relating to the
round barrow cemetery and its surrounding landscape.
Details
This monument includes a bowl barrow situated in a prominent location near
the summit of a gentle south east facing ridge overlooking the valley of
Huntacott Water. The barrow forms part of a round barrow cemetery which
includes at least seven barrows and a ring ditch. This barrow survives as a
circular mound with a diameter of 15.6m and is 0.7m high. The ditch from which
material to construct the mound was quarried surrounds the barrow and survives
as a buried feature c.2m wide.
Another barrow lying 110m to the north west is the subject of a separate
scheduling (SM 28612). 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:
28613
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS61NE8, (1982) MPP fieldwork by H. Gerrard, (1995)
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.
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