Reasons for Designation
Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They comprise
closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows - rubble or earthen mounds
covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries developed over a
considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in some cases acted as
a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period. They exhibit
considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently including
several different types of round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier
long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them,
contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been
revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a
marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other
important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst
their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection. The round barrow cemetery on West Burrow Moor survives comparatively well and
contains archaeological and environmental information relating to the
monument and its surrounding landscape.
Details
The monument, which includes seven bowl barrows in six areas of protection,
is located on a high upland ridge in an area known as Burrow Moor. Each barrow
is surrounded by a quarry ditch from which material was derived during its
construction. These ditches are no longer visible but survive as 2m wide
buried features. A possible outlier to this group lies to the west and is the
subject of a separate scheduling.
The seven barrows vary in diameter between 22.6m and 35.6m, and in height
between 0.4m and 1.4m. The barrows are spread over an area of some 600m. 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:
30319
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS71NE1, (1983) Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS71NE16, (1972) Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS71NE2, (1983) Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS71NE3, (1983) Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS71NE4, (1983) Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS71NE5, (1987) Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS71NE6, (1982)
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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