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.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow situated on a ridge overlooking Coombe
Bottom to the south east.
The barrow has a mound composed of limestone rubble, with maximum dimensions
of 16m in diameter and about 1.25m in height. The mound is surrounded by a
ditch from which material was quarried during the construction of the
monument. The ditch has become infilled over the years, but will survive as a
buried feature about 2m wide.
The barrow was partially excavated by J H Austen in 1855. A cremation within
a highly decorated urn associated with stone packing was thought to represent
the primary burial. Two smaller urns each containing a cremation were also
identified, and an inhumation burial associated with a Romano-British
penannular brooch represented an intrusive later deposit. A number of stones,
some with signs of burning, have also been identified around the southern area
of the barrow mound. Many of the finds discovered during the excavation are
now held at the Dorset County Museum.
The barrow lies within an area of later field system which has been reduced by
ploughing and the surviving remains are not included in the scheduling.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
33207
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
