Two bowl barrows 380m and 410m south west of Allaleigh Cross

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.

Despite their reduction by ploughing, the two bowl barrows 380m and 410m south west of Allaleigh Cross are still visible mounds which will retain information about their construction and use. It is probable that their primary burials are undisturbed, while stratified deposits will be present in their surrounding ditches.

Details

This monument, which falls into two separate areas of protection, includes two Late Neolithic to Bronze Age bowl barrows, on an east to west alignment along a broad ridge. The site is on a gentle slope with wide views to the south. The eastern mound is slightly oval, between 32m and 37.5m wide by up to 0.9m high. An encircling quarry ditch visible on the south and west sides is between 4m and 6m wide by 0.2m deep. The western mound is 44m in diameter by up to 0.4m high. No encircling ditch is visible, but this will survive as a buried feature. A hedge and farm track pass along the west side of the barrow, and the position of the ditch is visible as a change in the slope of the lane. Both barrows are composed of red-brown earth and small stones. The modern road surfaces 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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

33758

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Grinsell, L V, Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society in The Barrows of South and East Devon, Vol. 41, (1983), 32

End of official list entry

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