Two bowl barrows 600m and 750m west of Wrangworthy cross forming part of a round barrow cemetery

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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

30344

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS31NE2, (1982)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS31NE22, (1982)

End of official list entry

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