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 includes the foundations of a medieval animal pen and an adjacent
Bronze Age bowl barrow which also contains evidence for later Romano-British
burials. The barrow and animal pen stand on a hill crest, overlooking Romano-
British and medieval field systems and settlements in the Roystone Grange
area.
The medieval animal pen survives as a small rectangular enclosure in the
north east corner of a larger field. Two sides of the enclosure now underlie
the boundary walls of a more recent and larger field, although the foundations
of the later walls include medieval fabric. The pen measures approximately
12m by 7m. The two exposed medieval wall fragments survive as little more than
foundation levels built of large dolomitised limestone boulders. The enclosure
is interpreted as an animal pen associated with the medieval grange which was
situated a few metres to the west and occupied from the late 12th century.
To the immediate west of the animal pen is a prehistoric bowl barrow measuring
approximately 15m by 12.5m and standing between 0.9m and 1.5m high. The
north western side of the mound has been slightly eroded by small-scale
quarrying. It was partially excavated during the 1970s and was found to
contain a cist formed by limestone slabs located slightly off-centre. Several
burials are recorded ranging from an extended inhumation to the disarticulated
remains of several individuals. In addition there is evidence of several
cremation deposits within the mound, together with animal remains. Pottery
associated with some of the burials indicates that the primary use of the
barrow was during the Bronze Age. However, finds, especially in the western
side of the barrow, are identified as Romano-British, including characteristic
metalwork and pottery of this period. The barrow also lies on a hilltop
central to a large area of land enclosed during the Romano-British period and
is presumed to have been reused at this time by the people living and farming
nearby.
All gates and gateposts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath is included. Also excluded are the modern enclosure walls standing on
the remains of two sides of the medieval animal pen. However the foundation
courses and the ground beneath the walls are included, together with a 2m
margin. The wall foundations are included because of their medieval origins.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31227
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
