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 barrows on Tulk's Hill 800m north of East Bexington Farm are well
preserved examples of their class and will contain archaeological remains
providing information about Bronze Age burial practices, economy and
environment.
Details
The monument includes three bowl barrows in a prominent location on the top of
Tulk's Hill, 800m north of East Bexington Farm. The western barrow has a
mound, 15m in diameter and 1.5m high, which has had a trench, 2m wide,
excavated into it from the south, opening out into a central hollow, 4m in
diameter and 0.7m deep. This is said to result from an unrecorded amateur
excavation carried out before World War II. The central barrow has a mound,
18m in diameter and 1.5m high, and the eastern barrow has a mound, 10m in
diameter and 0.3m high. All are surrounded by quarry ditches from which
material was excavated during their construction, now visible as slight
depressions up to 3m 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.
