Three bowl barrows 750m south west of Pin Farm

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.

Although the three bowl barrows 750m south west of Pin Farm have been reduced in height and spread by ploughing the bases of the mounds, the soils buried beneath the mounds; and the fills of the buried ditches which are believed to surround them will retain archaeological information concerning the construction of the barrows and the manner and duration of their use, together with evidence for the local environment at that time. The proximity of the barrows to a number of other barrows in this part of Suffolk give them 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 three bowl barrows which are located on a north facing slope immediately to the east of an Icknield Way path. The most northern barrow is visible as a low earthen mound, which stands to a height of approximately 0.3m and covers a roughly circular area measuring approximately 36m in diameter.

A second bowl barrow is situated approximately 40m to the east of the first. It is visible as a roughly circular earthen mound, with a height of about 0.5m and a maximum diameter of 43m.

A third bowl barrow is situated 50m south of the first barrow and 60m to the south west of the second. This is also visible as a low circular mound with a maximum diameter of 41m and a height of about 0.4m.

The mounds of all three barrows have been spread by ploughing and are thought to overlie the ditches which originally encircled them and provided material for the construction of the mounds. These will now survive as buried features.

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:

31110

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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