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.
Details
This monument includes three Late Neolithic to Bronze Age bowl barrows,
scattered across a south facing slope on a SSE to NNW alignment, with local
views across the Kingsbridge Estuary to the east and west. The barrows form
part of a wider round barrow cemetery which contained at least 12 barrows in
all. Six of these are no longer considered to be of national importance as
they are ploughed flat, while the remaining three barrows to the north and
south east form the subject of separate schedulings.
The eastern mound measures 43m in diameter and survives up to 1.5m high with
an encircling ditch 10m wide and 0.2m deep. The central mound measures 35m in
diameter and up to 0.2m high, and the western barrow is 28m in diameter and
up to 0.5m high. Both of these mounds have encircling quarry ditches which
survive as buried features.
The road surfacings are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
33776
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
