Bowl barrow 490m north west of Abbey Farm

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 490m north west of Abbey Farm survives well despite ploughing and is believed to include both primary and secondary burials and associated artefacts. These will provide information about the local population, including evidence about dietary habits, diseases and standards of living. Artefactual evidence will indicate social status and illuminate ritual and funerary practises. In addition, the buried ditches, pits and barrow mound will preserve buried environmental evidence which will provide information about the landscape and climate in the vicinity at the time of the barrow's construction. Artefactual evidence recovered in trial excavations during 1983 have confirmed the dating of the barrow.

Details

The monument includes a bowl barrow 490m north west of Abbey Farm. The barrow survives as an irregular earthwork mound modified by ploughing and standing to a height of 0.5m. It is roughly oval and measures approximately 28m in diameter from east to west and 31m from north to south. Although no longer easily visible at ground level, a slight depression at the base of the mound represents two narrow ditches from which material was quarried during the construction of the barrow. These became partially infilled over time, but survive as buried features. Geophysical survey and trial excavation in 1983 confirmed the survival of the two ditches running around the mound as well as a number of other buried quarry pits. An assemblage of prehistoric flint and Bronze Age pottery fragments is recorded from the site. The excavation also indicated that both the primary burial and buried ground levels survive intact, as well as a number of secondary cremation burials. Probable ard marks (traces of early cultivation using a simple plough without a mould-board), were noted and Neolithic ground surfaces are expected to be preserved.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 5 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:

30064

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Various SMR Officers, Various unpublished notes in SMR file, excavation notes 1983

End of official list entry

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