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. The two bowl barrows 430m north west of Leworthy survive well and form part of
a cluster of large mounds. Archaeological and environmental information
survives within these barrows and together they provide evidence concerning
territorial control and land use in this part of Devon.
Details
This monument includes two bowl barrows aligned north east - south west
situated 430m north west of Leworthy on a prominent ridge location overlooking
the valley of a tributary to the River Deer. They form the northernmost pair
of a dispersed group of eight barrows.
The north eastern barrow survives as a circular mound which measures 18.2m in
diameter and is 0.4m high. The second barrow survives as a circular mound
which measures 20.7m in diameter and is 0.6m high. In each case the
surrounding ditch from which material to construct the mound was derived is
preserved as a buried feature.
The remaining six barrows within this group are the subject of separate
schedulings. 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:
30334
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS30SW12, (1983) Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS30SW13, (1983)
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.
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