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 survives well 460m NNE of Misarden Park, with a prominent
mound. The mound will contain evidence for primary and secondary burials,
along with grave goods, which will provide information about prehistoric
funerary practices and the local community at the time. The barrow mound will
also preserve environmental information in the buried ground surface,
providing evidence for the landscape at the time of the barrows construction.
In addition, the mound and its surrounding ditch will contain environmental
evidence in the form of organic remains, which will relate both to the barrow
and the wider landscape.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow 460m NNE of Misarden Park on a gentle
slope overlooked by higher ground to the north, immediately to the south of a
hollow way. The barrow mound measures 16m in diameter and about 1.75m high.
Surrounding the mound is a ditch from which material was excavated for the
construction of the barrow. The ditch is no longer visible at ground level,
but survives as a buried feature about 2m wide.
The post and wire fences immediately to the north west and south of the
monument are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is
included.
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.
