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 270m north east of Lower Hilcot Farm survives well and lies in
an area of significant prehistoric activity, with several bowl barrows lying
about 1.5km to the north east. The barrow mound will contain evidence for
primary and secondary burials, along with grave goods, which will provide
information about prehistoric funerary practices and about the size of the
local community at that time. The mound will also preserve environmental
information in the buried original ground surface, predating the construction
of the barrow and giving an insight into the landscape in which the monument
was set. 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 situated just below the crest of a hill in
the Cotswolds. The barrow mound measures 13m east-west, 16m north-south and is
1.2m high. Surrounding the mound is a ditch from which material was excavated
during the construction of the barrow. This ditch is no longer visible at
ground level, but survives as a buried feature about 2m wide. 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:
32391
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Darvill, T C, Grinsell, L V, 'Trans. of the Bristol and Glos. Arch. Society' in Gloucestershire Barrows: Supplement 1961-1988, , Vol. CVII, (1989), 39
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.
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