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 reduction in its height caused by ploughing over the years, the bowl
barrow 550m south east of Brimble Pit Pool retains a largely original profile.
There are no records of any antiquarian excavations of this barrow and it will
include archaeological remains containing information about Bronze Age
beliefs, economy and environment.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow, one of a dispersed group of round barrows
situated on the south western edge of the Mendip Hills.
The barrow lies on level ground immediately below the crest of the hill, 550m
south east of Brimble Pit Pool. It includes a low mound 13m in diameter and
0.3m high with a gently sloping profile. Although no longer visible on the
surface, a ditch surrounds the mound and will survive as a buried feature
approximately 2m wide. 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:
29770
Legacy System:
RSM
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