Two round barrows known as Jugger Howes, 250m east of Burn Howe Dale

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 two round barrows known as Jugger Howes, 250m east of Burn Howe Dale have survived well, and significant information about the original form of the barrows and the burials placed within them will be preserved. Evidence of earlier land use will also survive beneath the barrow mounds. The monument lies in an area rich in similar monuments and offers important scope for the study of social and ritual activities in the region during the prehistoric period.

Details

The monument includes two adjacent round barrows located on a prominent rise on the northern end of Jugger Howe Moor overlooking a broad, shallow valley to the north. It lies on the easternmost extent of the sandstone, heather covered moor characteristic of the North York Moors. Today the moor is little used but archaeological evidence indicates that this has not always been the case. The prehistoric period in particular saw extensive agricultural use of the area. It was also then being used for burials and activities associated with the carving of patterns on exposed rock. Remains of these activities survive today. Each barrow has an earth and stone mound. They lie 10m apart. The northern mound measures 7m in diameter and is 0.6m high. The southern mound measures 8m in diameter and is 0.6m high. Both mounds were surrounded by ditches up to 3m wide which have been filled in and are no longer visible as earthworks. There is a slight hollow in the centre of each mound showing that they have been investigated in the past.

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:

31363

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Smith, M J B, Excavated Bronze Age Burial Mounds of Durham and N' land., (1994), 1-34
Smith, M J B, Excavated Bronze Age Burial Mounds of Durham and N' land., (1994), 1-34

End of official list entry

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