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 bowl barrow on Ibsley Common, 210m north east of Mockbeggar Farm, survives
well despite some later disturbance and can be expected to retain important
archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the monument and
the landscape in which it was constructed. It forms part of a widely spaced
group of at least 16 round barrows situated on Ibsley Common. Partial
excavation of a sample of these barrows by Heywood Sumner has indicated that
many contain the remains of human cremation burials and associated Bronze Age
cinerary urns.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow of late Neolithic or Bronze Age date,
situated on a west facing spur projecting from Summerlug Hill at the south
western margin of a high gravel plateau which forms Ibsley Common. The barrow
is located on slightly sloping ground where the spur narrows to a brow above
the settlement of Mockbeggar. At least 16 additional round barrows are widely
spaced across the common, all of which are similarly situated around the edges
of the plateau or on subsidiary spurs.
The monument includes a slightly oval shaped mound, 9m by 8m in diameter,
raised 0.1m on the upslope, north eastern side and up to 0.45m on the
downslope, south western side. On the ground surface there is no trace of a
surrounding ditch as this has become infilled over time. However, a ditch can
be expected to survive as a buried feature. The mound has a hollowed centre,
indicating past excavation or possible disturbance caused by the later use of
the spur for World War II defensive trenches. Several slit trenches and rifle
butts extend across the spur 15m to the north east.
Many of the barrows located elsewhere on the common were excavated by Heywood
Sumner during the 1920s. His excavations indicated that most are surrounded by
a shallow ditch from which material for the construction of the mound would
have been obtained. Sumner's excavations also indicated that many of the
barrows contain the remains of human cremation burials. The remains of at
least five Bronze Age cinerary urns he recovered from the barrows on Ibsley
Common are now held at the Salisbury Museum.
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.
