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 two bowl barrows 290m north of Upper House Farm are well-preserved
examples of this class of monument. The barrow mounds will retain evidence for
their methods of construction as well as the burials within them. These
remains will advance our understanding of Bronze Age society, including the
ritual practices and technical abilities of their builders. The accumulated
ditch fills will preserve environmental evidence for the activities which took
place at the site during the construction of the barrows, and their subsequent
use. In addition, the buried ground surface beneath the mounds will preserve
evidence of the prehistoric landscape in which the barrows were built. The
prominent position of these barrows makes them clearly visible landmarks.
Details
The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of two adjacent bowl
barrows. The barrows are situated on level ground and occupy a prominent
position on the top of Rowley Hill, from which there are extensive views of
the surrounding countryside.
The earthen mound of the larger, southwestern, barrow is about 33m in diameter
and survives to a height of 1.2m. The mound of the second barrow, situated to
the north east, is smaller with a diameter of about 18m and a height of 0.4m.
This smaller barrow is of earth and stone construction. Although no longer
visible at ground level, a ditch, approximately 3m wide, surrounds each of the
mounds. Material was quarried from these ditches during the construction of
the barrows. They have become infilled over the years and now survive as
buried features.
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.
