Three round barrows 255m north west of Ropewalk Farm

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 three round barrows 255m north west of Ropewalk Farm survive reasonably well. Despite evidence for some reduction by ploughing, and for limited truncation of the edge of the north western barrow, their mounds remain substantially intact. The underlying old land surface and any original deposits associated with the mounds on and below the old land surface, will also remain.

Details

The scheduling includes three round barrows situated on near level ground on a ridge east of St Agnes. The three barrows lie in a roughly linear formation running north west-south east. The scheduling is divided into three separate areas of protection. The northernmost barrow is ovoid in plan, with an earth and stone mound measuring approximately 21m north west-south east by 15.3m north east-south west and 0.5m high. The central barrow has an earth and stone mound approximately 14m in diameter and 0.3m high. It has a slightly asymmetrical profile, its south east side being rather more prominent. The southernmost barrow has an earth and stone mound approximately 18m in diameter and 0.5m high, with a gently curving profile. The monument is closely associated with other round barrows which are the subject of a seperate scheduling, together forming a barrow cemetery running north west-south east along the ridge top.

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:

32925

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Title: St Agnes Tithe Apportionment Source Date: 1840 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: 180
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map Source Date: 1880 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map Source Date: 1907 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:
Title: St Agnes Tithe Apportionment Source Date: 1840 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:
Local resident to Preston-Jones, A, (1988)
Ordnance Survey, 69 309 228, (1969)
Thomas, R, Letter to the West Briton, (1851)
Young, A to Parkes, C, (2000)
SW 75 SW 5, King, AN, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1971)

End of official list entry

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