Bowl barrow known as Hob on the Hill and another barrow 60m to the north of it

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.

Despite limited disturbance, these barrows have survived well. Significant information about the original form of the barrows and the burials placed within them will be preserved. Evidence of earlier land use will also survive beneath the barrow mounds. Together with other barrows in the area they are thought to also represent a territorial marker. Similar groups of monuments are known across the west and central areas of the North York Moors, providing important insight into burial practice. Such groupings of monuments offer important scope for the study of the division of land for social and ritual purposes in different geographical areas during the prehistoric period.

Details

The monument includes two bowl barrows situated in a prominent position on the north edge of the North York Moors. The barrows lie close together, one being 60m to the north west of the other. Both of the barrows have an earth and stone mound and each was originally surrounded by a kerb of stones which defined the barrow and supported the mound. However, over the years some of the stones have been removed or buried by soil slipping off the mounds. The southern barrow stands 1.5m high and is 19m in diameter. There are kerb stones visible on the west side. A boundary stone, 1.2m high and 0.3m square, stands on the top of the mound. The south face of the stone is carved with the date 1798 and the letters R C, whilst the north face is engraved with the name Hob on the Hill. The northern barrow mound is 20m in diameter and stands 1.3m high. There is a well preserved kerb around the east side of the mound where there are large stones, up to 1.3m long, set on edge and small stones laid in two courses. Both these mounds were partly excavated by J C Atkinson in 1863. In the southern mound were found three cremation burials with pottery vessels and a flint knife and arrowhead. In the northern barrow was found an urn containing a cremation burial. The barrows lie in an area rich in prehistoric monuments including further barrows, field systems and clearance cairns.

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:

28275

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Smith, M J B, Excavated Bronze Age Burial Mounds in North East Yorkshire, (1995), 59
Elgee, F, Early Man in NE Yorkshire, (1930), 148
Spratt, D A, Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology in North East Yorkshire in Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology of North East Yorkshire, (1993), 91-116
Spratt, D A, Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology in North East Yorkshire in Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology of North East Yorkshire, (1993), 91-116

End of official list entry

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