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, which falls into two separate areas, includes two Bronze Age
bowl barrows aligned broadly east-west and situated about 500m apart on
Colaton Raleigh Common on either side of the B3180. Both barrows lie on the
crest of a ridge which falls away sharply to the west and both have commanding
views in that direction.
The eastern barrow, 780m NNE of Woodbury Castle, is 3.5m high with a diameter
of 21.7m; it has an encircling ditch 2.2m wide which is partly obscured on the
western side by a later bank. The western barrow, 500m north of Woodbury
Castle, has a height of 4m and a diameter of 31m. It too has an encircling
ditch, in this case 3.7m wide. An old gravel pit lies close to this barrow
on its south western side. Both barrows are further enclosed by substantial
banks and ditches, the bank surrounding the eastern barrow flanking a road
and partly overlying the barrow's associated ditch; these features are
considered to be landscaping additions dating from the late 18th or early 19th
centuries.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
29654
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
