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 Swyre Head, a prominent ridge.
The barrow, which was recorded by the Royal Commission on the Historical
Monuments of England in 1970, has a mound composed of earth and chalk, with
maximum dimensions of 25m in diameter and about 2.5m in height. The mound is
steep-sided and flat-topped, with a large square stone situated in the centre.
The form of the mound is likely to reflect later modification of the barrow in
order to act as a windmill mound, evidence for which is visible as two shallow
trenches which cross the mound. There are also short causeways to the north
and south of the mound which may have served as approach paths.
Surrounding the mound is a ditch from which material was quarried during the
construction of the original monument. The ditch has become infilled over the
years, but will survive as a buried feature 2m wide.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
33180
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
