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.
Although subject to excavation in 1987 which is thought to have removed or
disturbed the primary burial, the monument survives well in other respects and
will nevertheless retain further archaeological information relating to the
period of its construction, including secondary burials in its barrow mound.
The monument has the additional and unusual feature of an attached causeway,
which is thought to be related to its subsequent reuse as a meeting place or
`moot'.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow lying 50m to the west of Driffield beck on
the south western edge of Great Driffield.
The line of a small stream or field drain passes around the eastern side of
the monument, coinciding with what is thought to be the line of the ditch
surrounding the barrow.
The barrow is approximately 30m in diameter and survives to a height of some
3m. It is surrounded by a ditch of about 2m in diameter, which although it has
become infilled through the course of time, will survive as a buried feature.
On its western side the barrow is joined to slightly higher ground by a narrow
causeway, which is an unusual feature and may indicate that the monument was
used subsequently as a focus for meetings - possibly as a `moot'.
Although it was subject to excavation in 1987 which is thought to have removed
the primary burial, it will retain further archaeological information relating
to the period of its construction, including secondary burials in the barrow
mound.
Modern post and wire fencing is excluded from the scheduling, although the
ground beneath it is included.
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.
