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.
The bowl barrows in Chaddenwick Furze are, despite erosion caused by
cultivation, comparatively well preserved examples of their class and will
contain archaeological remains providing information about Bronze Age beliefs,
economy and environment.
Details
The monument, which lies within two areas, includes two round barrows
approximately 500m apart on a gentle north east facing slope known as
Chaddenwick Furze.
The most westerly barrow, which lies immediately below the crest of a ridge,
includes a mound approximately 25m in diameter and a maximum of 0.8m high.
Surrounding the mound is a ditch from which material was quarried during its
construction. This has become infilled but will survive as a buried feature 3m
wide. In the first decade of the 19th century the barrow was partly excavated
by Sir Richard Colt Hoare who found a Bronze Age urn and evidence of burning.
The easterly barrow, which lies on a slope immediately above a small dry
valley, has been considerably reduced by cultivation but is visible as a low
mound approximately 18m in diameter. This is also surrounded by an infilled
quarry ditch which was excavated, without result, by Colt Hoare.
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.