Bowl barrow 900m north of Copston 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 900m north of Copston Farm survives reasonably well despite ploughing and is believed to preserve the primary burial as well as associated buried artefacts and environmental deposits. 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 ditch will preserve environmental evidence including information about the landscape, environment and climate in the vicinity at the time of the barrow's construction.

Details

The monument includes the buried remains of a bowl barrow 900m north of Copston Farm. The barrow mound has been reduced by cultivation over the years, although the ditch, from which material was quarried during the construction of the barrow, survives as a buried feature. This is visible on aerial photographs as a circular cropmark (areas of differential plant growth over buried archaeological features) and encloses an area approximately 40m in diameter. In addition, internal features, possibly including the burial pits of primary and secondary burials, are visible on some photographs.

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:

30065

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Various SMR Officers, Various unpublished notes in SMR, WA3597 SMr number file

End of official list entry

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