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, which falls into three areas of protection, includes two bell
barrows, to the north and west of the group, and a bowl barrow. All are
situated on a gentle south east facing slope, overlooking the Bere valley. The
barrows form part of a wider group of 11 which, together, form a round barrow
cemetery on Roke Down.
The two bell barrows each have a central mound composed of earth, flint and
chalk, with maximum dimensions of between 18m and 23m in diameter and between
0.35m and 0.75m in height. The mounds are each surrounded by a berm or gently
sloping platform which has become obscured due to ploughing. Each berm is
surrounded by a ditch from which material was quarried during the construction
of the monument. The ditches have become infilled over the years, but are
known from aerial photographic evidence to survive as buried features. One of
the bell barrows is known to have been partially excavated in the 19th
century.
The bowl barrow has a mound with maximum dimensions of 26m in diameter and
about 0.45m in height. This barrow is also known from aerial photographic
evidence to be surrounded by a quarry ditch.
The south eastern area of the western bell barrow is not included in the
scheduling were it has been quarried by the construction of a silage clamp.
Excluded from the scheduling are all fence posts relating to the modern field
boundary, although the ground beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28396
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
