Bowl barrow on Whitcombe Hill 500m north of Whitcombe Farm

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 500m north of Whitcombe Farm, one of two on Whitcombe Hill, is a well preserved example of its class and will include archaeological deposits containing information about Bronze Age burial practices, society and the contemporary environment.

Details

The monument includes a bowl barrow, one of a pair situated on Whitcombe Hill. The barrow has a mound 28m in diameter and about 3m high. Surrounding the mound is a quarry ditch from which material was derived for its construction. This has become infilled over the years but will survive as a buried feature about 3m wide. The barrow is crossed by the parish boundary which is marked by a low bank and a fence. All fence posts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.

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:

33539

Legacy System:

RSM

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