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 the bowl barrow known as Troston Mount which is situated
to the south of Honington Airfield and immediately to the east of Broadmere
Lake. The barrow is visible as an earthen mound, which stands to a height of
approximately 2.5m. The barrow mound is roughly circular with a diameter of
about 34m. Encircling the mound are a ditch and external bank, which are most
clearly visible on the north east and south west sides of the mound. The ditch
is largely infilled, but is marked by a hollow approximately 0.2m deep and up
to 8m wide. The external bank is about 6m wide, and survives in places to a
height of up to 0.5m.
The monument is believed to have been used as a meeting place for the Court of
the Bradmere Hundred. In addition, the Troston tithe map of 1842 names a field
in the vicinity as `Gibbet Pightle' indicating the proximity of a
gibbet/gallows site; this was possibly on Troston Mount.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31088
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
