Reasons for Designation
Bell barrows, the most visually impressive form of round barrow, are funerary
monuments dating to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, with most examples
belonging to the period 1500-1100 BC. They occur either in isolation or in
round barrow cemeteries and were constructed as single or multiple mounds
covering burials, often in pits, and surrounded by an enclosure ditch. The
burials are frequently accompanied by weapons, personal ornaments and pottery
and appear to be those of aristocratic individuals, usually men. Bell barrows
(particularly multiple barrows) are rare nationally, with less than 250 known
examples, most of which are in Wessex. Their richness in terms of grave goods
provides evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst early
prehistoric communities over most of southern and eastern England as well as
providing an insight into their beliefs and social organisation. As a
particularly rare form of round barrow, all identified bell barrows would
normally be considered to be of national importance.
Details
The monument includes a bell barrow, situated on the crest of the east bank,
overlooking the floodplain of The Black Bourn river. The barrow is visible as
a roughly circular earthen mound, which stands to a height of approximately
1m. The barrow mound is 12m in diameter and is surrounded by a berm up to 15m
wide and a ditch. The partly infilled ditch, from which earth was dug and used
in the construction of the mound, is visible as a hollow in the ground surface
on the north and west sides, where it is approximately 6m wide and remains
open to a depth of 0.5m. The ditch will survive elsewhere as a buried
feature. The barrow, including the ditch and berm is 54m in diameter overall.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31090
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
