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
This monument, which falls into two areas, includes three bowl barrows
situated on a high upland ridge overlooking the Sterridge Valley. They form
part of a large dispersed group of similar monuments which extend across this
upland ridge and are all the subject of several separate schedulings.
The three barrows all survive as circular mounds with their surrounding quarry
ditches being preserved as buried features. The northernmost mound measures
18.6m in diameter and is 0.4m high. It is surrounded by an approximately 2m
wide quarry ditch and partially underlies a field boundary on its western
side. The central mound measures 30.3m in diameter and 1.4m high and is
surrounded by an approximately 3m wide quarry ditch. The easternmost mound
measures 21.6m in diameter and 0.9m high. The quarry ditch, which is
approximately 2m wide, partially underlies a field boundary on the southern
side.
The field boundaries which cross the barrows to the west and south are
excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
32222
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
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
