Reasons for Designation
A small number of areas in southern England appear to have acted as foci for
ceremonial and ritual activity during the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age
periods. Two of the best known and earliest recognised, with references in the
17th century, are around Avebury and Stonehenge, now jointly designated as a
World Heritage Site. In the Avebury area, the henge monument itself, the West
Kennet Avenue, the Sanctuary, West Kennet long barrow, Windmill Hill
causewayed enclosure and the enigmatic Silbury Hill are well-known. Whilst the
other Neolithic long barrows, the many Bronze Age round barrows and other
associated sites are less well-known, together they define one of the richest
and most varied areas of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial and ritual
monuments in the country. Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age
(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 and occasionally associated
with earlier long barrows. Where investigation beyond the round barrows has
occurred, contemporary or later `flat' burials between the barrow mounds have
often been revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland
England with a marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases they are
clustered around other important contemporary monuments, as is the case both
here and at Stonehenge. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major
historic element in the modern landscape, while their diversity and their
longevity as a monument type provide important information on the variety of
beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. All
examples are considered worthy of protection.
Despite evidence for partial excavation in the past, the bowl barrow 500m west
of the wireless station on Morgan's Hill survives as a recognisable earthwork
and will contain archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to
its construction and the landscape in which it was built.
Details
The monument includes one of a group of three bowl barrows, located on a west
facing spur of Morgan's Hill. This barrow is situated 500m west of the
wireless station on Morgan's Hill. The Wansdyke linear earthwork runs from
east to west through the group, with this and one other barrow to the south
and the remaining barrow to the north. The barrow has a mound 26m in diameter
and up to 1.7m high. Surrounding this, but only visible as a slight surface
feature, is a quarry ditch from which material was obtained during its
construction. This has become infilled over the years but survives as a buried
feature about 2.5m wide.
There is a slight depression in the top of the mound which measures 0.3m deep
and roughly 1.5m wide. This is believed to represent a partial excavation,
probably during the mid-19th century when the barrow to the north was opened.
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.
