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.
Details
The monument includes two bowl barrows, the most northerly of a group of round
barrows that are situated on the south western edge of the Mendip Hills. The
two barrows lie 350m to the south of Brimble Pit Pool immediately below the
crest of the hill and are aligned NNW-SSE.
The larger, most northerly, barrow includes a mound 17m in diameter and 0.7m
high with a gently sloping profile. The second barrow includes a mound 12m in
diameter and 0.3m high with a slightly uneven profile.
Although no longer visible on the surface, a ditch surrounds each of the
mounds, in each case surviving as a buried feature approximately 2m wide.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
29772
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
