Bowl barrow on Chalk Hill, 380m north west of Chalkhill Cottages

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 bowl barrow on Chalk Hill, 380m north west of Chalkhill Cottages is a well known landmark and is the only visible survivor of an immediate cluster of four barrows. It is also thought to represent one of the barrows which make up a much larger group, the Chippenham barrow group which extends into Cambridgeshire. Although much of the mound and secondary burials have been removed by excavation the primary burial has been undisturbed. It is therefore likely that features and archaeological deposits contemporary with or predating the barrow, together with evidence for the local environment prior to the construction and during the use of the barrow will be preserved buried in the soils beneath the mound.

Details

The monument includes a bowl barrow located on the crest of a hill to the west of and overlooking the A11. The barrow is visible as an earthen mound, which stands to a height of approximately 1.8m and covers a roughly circular area measuring approximately 24m north-south by 21m east-west. The monument represents the only survivor of a line of four barrows, two to the east and two to the west of the main road. In 1923 the barrow was excavated by Earl Cawdor and C Fox. It was found to be constructed of sand with a later clay capping. No evidence was recorded for a primary burial beneath the mound, but secondary burials in the form of three contracted inhumations and 11 cremations were excavated from the clay layer. Eight of the cremation burials were accompanied by grave goods which included bone and bronze pins, a bone necklace, various flint implements and four pottery vessels.

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:

31091

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Fox, C, Archaeology of the Cambridge Region, (1923), 31
Cawdor, E, Fox, C, Quarterly Journal of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology in The Beacon Hill Barrow, Barton Mills, Suffolk, Vol. 26, (1923), 19-60
Gedge, J G, Quarterly Journal of Suffolk Institute of Archaeology in Examination of Suffolk Tumuli: Barton Hill, (1869), 20-21

End of official list entry

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