Reasons for Designation
Round barrows 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 mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered
single or multiple burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as
cemeteries and often acted as a focus of 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 examples recorded nationally (many more have already
been destroyed), occurring across most of Britain, including the Wessex area
where it is often possible to classify them more closely, for example as bowl
or bell barrows. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major
historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable variation in
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 round barrow 230m south west of Killiganoon Manor survives particularly
well. Despite the relatively recent slight modifications and the addition of
an earthwork on the north side, it remains almost intact, as will the
underlying old land surface and any surviving original deposits associated
with it. Its location on a ridge top illustrates the important role of
topography in Bronze Age funerary activity.
Details
The scheduling includes a prehistoric round barrow, situated on level ground
towards the south of a ridge east of Carnon Downs. The barrow has a prominent
earth and stone mound approximately 18m in diameter and 4.5m high, with
regular steep sides. It has a fairly flat top around 5.2m across which may
have been levelled relatively recently. The barrow has been modified by the
cutting of a path, 0.5m wide and levelled in by 0.3m on the west side, which
curves northwards to the top of the mound, and by the construction of a
substantial ramp-like earthwork which abuts the mound from ground level on the
north side.
This earthwork, which is included in the scheduling, measures approximately
22m long, north-south, by 9.5m wide at its northern end, broadening to 16m
wide at the southern end, and rises to 1.5m high. Its east side, north of its
junction with the barrow mound, is cut by a pit 10m across and 1.5m deep used
for the extraction of stone or other material. The northern part of the
earthwork has been truncated slightly on the west side to accommodate a modern
silage clamp.
The modern materials used for blocking the gateway on the south side
are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath 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.
