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 includes two bowl barrows, aligned north east to south west,
situated on a ridge known as Pallington Clump overlooking the Piddle Valley to
the south. The barrows form part of a group of six which, together, form a
round barrow cemetery on the northern part of Pallington Heath.
The barrows each have a mound composed of earth, sand and turf, with maximum
dimensions of between 13m-15m in diameter and between c.0.75m-1m in height.
The barrow mounds each have a hollow in the centre; these were recorded by The
Royal Commission for Historic Monuments in 1952 and both could relate to
undated Antiquarian excavations. Each mound is surrounded by a ditch from
which material was quarried during the construction of the monument. The
ditches are visible as earthworks 3m wide and c.0.35m deep.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28344
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
