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
The monument includes a round barrow cemetery which is situated in a prominent
position between the heads of Staindale and Deep Dale, towards the northern
scarp edge of the Tabular Hills. It lies within two separate areas of
protection divided by Dalby Forest Drive.
The cemetery has seven round barrows which are in a linear arrangement,
oriented NNW to SSE; six are in a direct alignment, although the second from
the north is offset slightly to the east of the line. They are spaced between
45m and 60m apart. The seventh barrow is situated to the immediate east of the
third barrow from the north. The most northerly barrow has an earth and stone
mound which measures 30m in diameter and stands up to 2.2m high. The other
barrows have earthen mounds which measure between 12m and 23m in diameter and
stand between 0.3m and 2.1m high. The three most northerly barrows are the
largest and most prominent and are known as the Three Howes. The four most
southerly barrows have been reduced in size by ploughing; formerly their
diameters were between 15m and 30m. The barrow to the east of the main
alignment is the most affected by plough reduction and is visible only as a
slight rise up to 0.3m high. Partial excavation in the past has left a hollow
in the centre of four of the seven barrow mounds. Any burials which were
placed in the area between the barrows are not visible, but will survive below
the ground surface as buried features.
An old footpath, visible as a linear depression, runs in a north east to south
west direction past the northern edge of the most southern barrow.
The round barrow cemetery lies in an area which has many other prehistoric
monuments, including further burials and the remains of prehistoric land
division.
The surface of the gravelled forestry track which runs past the north west
corner of the monument and a fence which runs east to west across the southern
edge of the second barrow from the north are excluded from the scheduling,
although the ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
34678
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
