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.
Despite some reduction by ploughing, the four bowl barrows at the eastern end
of Waterston Ridge, 490m south west and 500m south east of Ridge Farm, survive
comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence
relating to the monument and the wider landscape.
Details
The monument, which falls into two separate areas of protection, includes four
bowl barrows situated at the eastern end of Waterston Ridge from which there
are panoramic views. The barrows originally formed a cemetery of five bowl
barrows, although the north eastern example, known as Robin's Barrow, has
since been destroyed and is not included in the scheduling.
The western barrow was recorded by the Royal Commission on the Historical
Monuments of England in 1970. It has a mound composed of earth and chalk, with
maximum dimensions of 26m in diameter and about 1.2m in height. Surrounding
the mound is a ditch from which material was quarried during its construction.
The ditch has become infilled over the years, but will survive as a buried
feature 2m wide.
To the east, a group of three bowl barrows are aligned north east to south
west. Each barrow has a mound with dimensions of between 21m and 25m in
diameter and between about 0.45m and about 0.5m in height. Each mound is
surrounded by a quarry ditch which has become infilled, but each will survive
as a buried feature about 2m wide.
The barrows lie on the eastern edge of an extensive area of field system which
is likely to have prehistoric origins. The field system has since been reduced
by ploughing and is not included in the scheduling.
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.
