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 barrow 700m north of Woodford Mill survives well both as a visible
earthwork and in the form of buried archaeological deposits. These deposits,
including funerary remains, will be preserved within and beneath the mound and
in the fills of the ditch; they will provide valuable evidence for the date,
construction and period of use of the barrow. Environmental evidence
preserved in the same deposits will illustrate the nature of the landscape in
which the monument was constructed.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow located 700m north of Woodford Mill on low
lying ground on the south bank of the River Nene. It is visible as a mound
measuring approximately 30m in diameter and 0.5m in height. Surrounding the
mound is a ditch from which material was quarried during the construction of
the monument. This has become partly infilled over the years but is visible as
a slight depression 5m wide on the south and east sides. The mound and ditch
are partly overlain by spoil deposited during the construction in modern
times of a nearby pond. 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:
17139
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Hall, , Hutchings, , 'Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal' in Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal, , Vol. 7, (1972), 16Other Cadman, G, (1994) typescript and annotated map, Cadman, G, Gravels Survey; Site no.17, (1991)
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.
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