Reasons for Designation
Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.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, occasionally associated with earlier
long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them,
contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been
revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a
marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other
important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst
their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
The two bowl barrows 600m and 750m west of Wrangworthy Cross form part of a
well preserved and extensive round barrow cemetery in a prominent ridge top
location. Archaeological and environmental information relating to the
monument and the landscape in which it was constructed survives in and under
these mounds.
Details
This monument, which falls into two areas of protection, includes two bowl
barrows which lie to the east of Common Moor, one of which is known as Rush
Barrow. They are situated on a high upland ridge which overlooks the valley of
a tributary to the River Torridge and form part of a round barrow cemetery.
Clusters of barrows lie to the east, south east and west but these are the
subject of separate schedulings.
The easternmost barrow is known as Rush Barrow and survives as a circular
mound which measures 34.6m in diameter and is 1.8m high. The surrounding
quarry ditch from which material to construct the mound was derived is
preserved as a buried feature. This ditch is partly cut on its southern side
by a ditched field boundary.
The western barrow survives as an oval mound which measures 25.6m long by
20.6m wide and is 0.6m high. The surrounding quarry ditch is preserved as a
buried feature. The mound and ditch have been cut on the eastern side by a
drain and to the south and south west by a roadside bank and ditch.
The field boundary, ditch and metalled road lying south of Rush Barrow are
excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath is included. A drain,
roadside bank and ditch adjacent to the western barrow are also excluded from
the scheduling, but, again, the ground beneath them is included.
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.
