Saxon barrow 40m south east of Oxford Lodge

Reasons for Designation

A hlaew is a burial monument of Anglo-Saxon or Viking date and comprising a hemispherical mound of earth and redeposited bedrock constructed over a primary burial or burials. These were usually inhumations, buried in a grave cut into the subsoil beneath the mound, but cremations placed on the old ground surface beneath the mound have also been found. Hlaews may occur in pairs or in small groups; a few have accompanying flat graves. Constructed during the pagan Saxon and Viking periods for individuals of high rank, they served as visible and ostentatious markers of their social position. Some were associated with territorial claims and appear to have been specifically located to mark boundaries. They often contain objects which give information on the range of technological skill and trading contacts of the period. Only between 50 and 60 hlaews have been positively identified in England. As a rare monument class all positively identified examples are considered worthy of preservation.

The hlaew south east of Oxford Lodge survives as a fine example of its class. The three quarters of the monument which survived road widening will contain archaeological and environmental remains relating to its construction and the landscape on which it was built.

Details

The monument includes an Anglo-Saxon burial mound, known as a hlaew, situated south east of Oxford Lodge, immediately east of the A43(T) road. Despite the west quadrant of the barrow having been removed to bedrock by excavation prior to road widening in 1974, the barrow mound survives as a clearly visible earthwork measuring up to 20m in diameter (north to south) and standing up to c.2m high. The barrow mound originally stood c.2.5m high but has been partly landscaped on the west side to improve road visibility. There was no indication that it ever had a quarry ditch. Excluded from the scheduled area is the boundary fence between the road carriageway and the field in which the barrow lies, although the ground beneath is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

28165

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
PRN 5125, C.A.O., Mound East of Oxford Lodge, (1993)

End of official list entry

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