Three bowl barrows 470m and 460m west of Bolotho

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.

The three bowl barrows 470m and 460m west of Bolotho survive reasonably well, their mounds being clearly visible. Despite reduction by ploughing, the mounds remain substantially intact, as will the underlying old land surface and any surviving original deposits associated with the mound and the old land surface. Their location within a ridge top barrow cemetery, with other barrows beyond this scheduling, illustrates well the important role of topography in Bronze Age funerary activity.

Details

The scheduling includes three prehistoric bowl barrows, situated above a gentle slope at the south east end of a ridge north of Carnon Downs. The two northernmost barrows form a neighbouring pair, with the third 120m to their south. These barrows are closely associated with others beyond this scheduling, together forming a ridge top barrow cemetery. This scheduling is divided into two separate areas of protection. The two neighbouring barrows have similar mounds, measuring 21m in diameter and approximately 0.4m high. Their exposed fabric consists of earth and stones, a substantial proportion of the larger stones being white quartz. The barrow to the south has a mound 17m in diameter and up to 0.3m high, being more prominent on its south side where it projects from a gentle natural slope. Its exposed fabric of earth and small stones appears to contain less quartz than the barrows to the north.

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:

32910

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Henderson, C, Parochial Antiquities in Parochial Antiquities, Vol. 5, (1915), 139

Other
Title: Kea Tithe Apportionment Source Date: 1840 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:
Letter 42, Thomas, R, Letter to the West Briton, (1852)

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