Reasons for Designation
Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They comprise
closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows - rubble or earthen mounds
covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries developed over a
considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in some cases acted as
a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period. They exhibit
considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently including
several different types of round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier
long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them,
contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been
revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a
marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other
important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst
their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
Details
The monument includes a round barrow cemetery situated along the brow of a
north west facing chalk slope, now occupying the site of a public green within
a housing estate off Seymour Road and Challis Close, Basingstoke. Originally
considered to be a long barrow, the monument has been reinterpreted as a row
of five confluent round barrows enclosed by a `U' shaped ditch and bordered by
four contiguous round barrows. The group of five confluent barrows now
survives as a long, low mound, approximately 40m long by a maximum 24m wide,
standing up to 0.8m high. The tops of four of the confluent barrows are
visible along the crest of the mound; the fifth appears to underlie and extend
east of the paved footpath which now crosses the monument. No trace is
visible of the `U' shaped ditch or the four contiguous round barrows, though
the ditch and other remains are likely to survive as buried features.
The paved footpath that crosses the monument is excluded from the scheduling,
although the ground beneath it is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31170
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
