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 400m south of Rookham, although eroded by ploughing will
include archaeological remains containing information about Bronze Age
beliefs, economy and environment.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow situated on level ground 400m south of
Rookham.
The barrow includes a mound 18m in diameter and 0.6m high with a gently
sloping profile. Surrounding the mound is a ditch approximately 2m wide, this
is still visible on the west side and survives as a buried feature elsewhere
around the mound.
A drystone wall crosses the northern edge of the ditch and is excluded from
the scheduling, although the ground beneath it is included. 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:
29775
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Barnes, E E, 'Wells AR' in Barrows of the Neighbourhood, , Vol. 23, (1911), 11
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.
End of official list entry
Print the official list entry