Two round barrows on Moorsholm Moor known as Black Howes

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 represent a territorial marker. Similar groups of monuments are also 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 round barrows situated in a prominent position on the north edge of the North York Moors. The barrows lie adjacently, one being 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 taken away or been buried by soil slipping off the mounds. The north western barrow stands 2m high and is 18m in diameter. There are kerb stones visible on the south side, one with an Ordnance Survey bench mark carved on it. The southern barrow mound is 22m in diameter and stands 2m high and there are kerb stones visible on the south side. Both the barrows were partly excavated in 1863 by J C Atkinson. In the northern mound the remains of two cremation burials in urns with two pieces of bone pins were found. The excavation of the southern mound revealed that it was made of at least three small cairns covered by the larger earth and stone mound and surrounded by a stone kerb. Within these cairns were found a total of seven urns containing cremations some associated with jet beads and pottery vessels. 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:

28271

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Smith, M J B, Excavated Bronze Age Burial Mounds in North East Yorkshire, (1995), 60
Smith, M J B, Excavated Bronze Age Burial Mounds in North East Yorkshire, (1995), 61
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

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.