Saucer barrow 100m south west of Knowstone Moor Cross

Reasons for Designation

Saucer barrows are funerary monuments of the Early Bronze Age, most examples dating to between 1800 and l200 BC. They occur either in isolation or in barrow cemeteries (closely-spaced groups of round barrows). They were constructed as a circular area of level ground defined by a bank and internal ditch and largely occupied by a single low, squat mound covering one or more burials, usually in a pit. The burials, either inhumations or cremations, are sometimes accompanied by pottery vessels, tools and personal ornaments. Saucer barrows are one of the rarest recognised forms of round barrow, with about 60 known examples nationally, most of which are in Wessex. The presence of grave goods within the barrows provides important evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst prehistoric communities over a wide area of southern England as well as providing an insight into their beliefs and social organisation. As a rare and fragile form of round barrow, all identified saucer barrows would normally be considered to be of national importance.

The saucer barrow 100m south west of Knowstone Moor Cross survives well and maintains many of its original features. It will also contain archaeological and environmental information relating to both the monument and its surrounding landscape.

Details

This monument includes a saucer barrow which is situated on a high upland ridge known as Knowstone Inner Moor which overlooks the valley of a tributary to the Sturcombe River. The monument survives as a circular mound 5.7m in diameter and up to 1m high, surrounded by an inner ditch up to 1.3m wide and 0.5m deep. Beyond this is an outer bank which measures 9.6m wide and up to 0.6m high. The outer quarry ditch from which material to construct the mound was derived survives as a buried feature defined by a wet flat area up to 4m wide, visible most clearly on the eastern side.

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:

32220

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS82SW12, (1983)

End of official list entry

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