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 on Copley Hill. This natural hill, one of
several chalk knolls along the Babraham Road (A1307), stands 17m high and is
crowned by a small mound representing the remains of a Bronze Age barrow. The
mound measures approximately 21m in diameter and is 2m high. Its north western
slope merges with the natural hill, obscuring the precise dimensions of the
mound. The surrounding ditch, from which earth was dug in the construction of
the mound, has become infilled over the years, but will survive as a buried
feature. It is believed to be approximately 3m wide.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
33345
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
