Round barrow on Surgate Brow known as Swarth Howe

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.

Despite disturbance, the round barrow on Surgate Brow, known as Swarth Howe has surviving archaeological deposits which will preserve information about the original form of the barrow and the burials placed within it. Evidence for earlier land use and the contemporary environment will also survive beneath the barrow mound. The barrow is one of a pair and in a larger grouping of six which were originally distributed along the top of Surgate Brow. The association with other similar monuments provides an insight into the distribution of ritual and funerary activity across the landscape during the prehistoric period.

Details

The monument includes a round barrow situated in a prominent position at the top of the north eastern scarp edge of the Hackness Hills. The barrow has an earth and stone mound which stands up to 1m high and measures up to 16m in diameter. The centre of the mound has been hollowed out by partial excavation in the past. Spoil from this excavation has been deposited on the WNW edge of the mound, increasing the diameter of the mound to 20m at this point. The barrow lies in an area where there are many other prehistoric burial monuments.

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:

34542

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Title: Forestry Commission Areas North York Moors Archaeological Survey Source Date: 1992 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:

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