Round barrow in Newton Mulgrave Woods, 740m south of Newton Brow

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 importance of the barrow 740m south of Newton Brow is enhanced by its spatial association with seven other barrows. Such clusters of burial monuments provide important insight into the development of ritual and funerary practice during the Bronze Age. The barrow is situated within an area which includes other monuments dating from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. Associated groups of monuments such as these demonstrate a continuity of occupation throughout the prehistoric period and offer important scope for the study of the distribution and development of prehistoric activity across the landscape.

Details

The monument includes a round barrow which lies in a conifer plantation on a gentle south-facing slope at the north edge of the North York Moors. The barrow has an earth and stone mound which measures 8m in diameter and stands up to 0.5m high. In the centre of the mound there is a hollow caused by excavations in the past. Forestry furrows run across the mound in a north east to south west direction and have dislodged three large sub-rectangular stones from the centre of the mound. The barrow was originally one of at least eight spread across the north east side of Newton Mulgrave Moor and lies in an area rich in prehistoric monuments, including further barrows, field systems and settlements.

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:

32036

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Spratt, D A, Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology in North East Yorkshire in Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology of North East Yorkshire, Vol. 87, (1993)

Other
Bastow, M E, AM107,

End of official list entry

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