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.
Bowl barrows are the most numerous form of round barrow and date from the Late
Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the
period 2400-1500 BC.
The bowl barrow on Ashley Down Plantation, 1010m south west of Forest of Bere
Farm survives well and, along with the other adjacent barrows, can be expected
to retain important archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating
to the cemetery and the environment in which it was constructed.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow inconspicuously situated on the flank of a
high chalk ridge which projects to the west from Farley Mount. The bowl barrow
lies 180m downslope from a false brow of the ridge, at the end of a slight
spur projecting to the north west. It forms part of a round barrow cemetery of
probable Bronze Age date (2000-700 BC). Six additional barrows which also form
part of the cemetery, are situated 50m and 200m to the east and are the
subject of separate schedulings.
The bowl barrow includes a reasonably well defined circular mound, 18m in
diameter and raised up to 1.7m on the downslope side, flanked to the south
east by a surrounding quarry ditch, 6m wide. The top of the barrow is slightly
hollowed, indicating later excavation, and it appears that spoil has been
placed against the mound to the north east. The surrounding ditch has been
partly infilled by the spoil and is slightly clipped by a later hollow way on
that side, and has been partly infilled on the other side of the mound by a
modern farm track which clips the barrow to the south west. Buried remains
associated with the original construction and use of the monument, however,
including the original ground surface, ditch fills, burials, grave pits and
grave goods, can be expected to survive.
All fence posts are excluded from the scheduling, although 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.
