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.
Details
The monument includes a round barrow cemetery comprising one bell barrow and
four bowl barrows situated at the base of the south facing edge of Codford
Down on the west side of the valley of the Chitterne Brook. The cemetery
originally contained one bell barrow and ten bowl barrows. Of these, the bell
barrow and five bowl barrows survive as upstanding earthworks, one of which is
an outlier to the east and the subject of a separate scheduling. Additional
barrows may survive as buried features within the monument.
The bell barrow (ST97894280)is at the northern end of the cemetery. It has a
mound with a flat top 6m across which is 2.8m high and 22.5m in diameter.
There is a slight berm on the western side. Surrounding it is a quarry ditch
5m wide and 0.5m deep on all but the northern side where it is set into the
hillside and has become infilled.
To the south west of this is the mound of a bowl barrow (ST97864277). This has
been spread by ploughing and is 0.4m high and 21m in diameter. Partial
excavation in 1957 showed that this is a scraped up barrow with no surrounding
ditch. The mounds of the remaining bowl barrows are surrounded by ditches from
which material was quarried during their construction. These have become
infilled over the years and survive as buried features.
The largest bowl barrow (ST97914268) lies to the south of the others in the
group. It has a mound up to 2.2m high and 23.5m in diameter. To the north of
this is the mound of another bowl barrow (ST97914274) which is up to 1m high
and 20m across and has been truncated on its eastern edge by ploughing. North
of this, adjacent to the bell barrow is a low bowl barrow (ST97904278) with a
mound 0.3m high and 15.5m in diameter.
The barrow cemetery was investigated by William Cunnington and recorded and
drawn by the antiquarian Sir Richard Colt Hoare at the beginning of the 19th
century. At this time 11 barrows survived in the cemetery which he called
the Ashton Valley group. Partial excavation of the barrows at that time and in
1957 revealed inhumations and cremations as well as artefacts including Middle
and Late Bronze Age Urns and bronze axeheads.
All fenceposts and cattle troughs are excluded from the scheduling although
the ground beneath these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31665
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
