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 a bowl barrow, 300m east of Alhambra, part of a
dispersed group of barrows on Canford Heath.
The barrow has a mound 15m in diameter and 1.3m high with a depression in the
top indicating that it may have been excavated in the past. Surrounding the
mound is a quarry ditch from which material to construct it was derived. This
is visible as a depression up to 2m wide. Surface digging up to the edge of
the ditch on the northern, western and southern sides have reduced the ground
level on these sides leaving a narrow bank which gives the false impression of
an outer earthwork.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31060
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
