Bell barrow 420m north west of Park Farm

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.

The bell barrow to the north west of Park Farm is of an unusual form with a small mound in relation to the large berm. It survives well and will retain archaeological imformation concerning its construction and the manner and duration of its use. Evidence for the local environment prior to and during that time will also be preserved in soils buried beneath the mound and in the fill of the ditch. The proximity of the barrow to a number of other barrows in this part of the Breckland region give it additional interest. Together, these barrows give some evidence of the character, development and density of the prehistoric population in this area.

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.

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:

31090

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Phillips, A S, Ordnance Survey Card TL 97 NW 3, (1962)

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