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.
Details
This monument, which falls into two areas of protection, includes two bowl
barrows, one immediately north and one 100m south of Commonmoor Cottage,
located on a high upland ridge overlooking the valley of a tributary to the
River Torridge. This pair form part of a round barrow cemetery which occurs as
a cluster of barrows on this ridge. Other barrows within the cemetery are the
subject of separate schedulings. The northernmost barrow survives as a
circular mound which measures 37.8m in diameter and is 1.5m high. It partially
underlies an access lane and field boundaries which meet at the apex of the
barrow. The south western part of the mound has been cut by landscape
features, septic tanks and a building which is no longer extant. The
surrounding quarry ditch, from which material to construct the mound was
derived, survives as a buried feature.
The southern barrow survives as a circular mound which measures 34.7m in
diameter and is 1.6m high. The surrounding quarry ditch is preserved as a
buried feature.
The field boundaries crossing the mound, the surface of the access road to
Commonmoor Cottage and the septic tank are excluded from the monument,
although the ground below the boundaries and road and around the septic tank
is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
30345
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
