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.
Details
The monument, which falls into two separate areas of protection, includes two
bowl barrows aligned north-south, situated on a spur overlooking Coombe Bottom
to the south.
The northern example, which is known as `The Afflington Barrow', has a mound
composed of limestone rubble with maximum dimensions of 22m in diameter and
about 1.8m in height. The southern barrow mound is 25m in diameter and about
0.5m high. The mounds are each surrounded by a ditch from which material was
quarried during their construction. These have each become infilled, but will
survive as buried features about 2m wide.
The Afflington barrow was partially excavated by J H Austen in 1855. A
possible primary cremation was identified, along with a crouched inhumation
burial and nine extended inhumations which were arranged in parallel rows.
Five of the graves were stone lined, two contained double burials and one
contained a bronze finger ring. The barrow also contained some Romano-British
pottery and bronze belt or strap fittings. The finds are now held in the
Dorset County Museum.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
33204
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
