Reasons for Designation
Bowl barrows, the most numerous form of round barrow, 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 or rubble mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered single or multiple
burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as cemeteries and often
acted as a focus for 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 bowl
barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring
across most of lowland Britain. Often occupying prominent locations, they are
a major historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable
variation of 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 reduction in its height through cultivation, the bowl barrow 240m
south east of Upcott Cross survives comparatively well and will contain both
archaeological and environmental information relating to the monument and its
surrounding landscape.
Details
This monument includes a bowl barrow situated on a high upland ridge
overlooking the valley of a tributary to the River Wolf. It is one of a
dispersed group of bowl barrows in this area, further barrows to the north
west, south west, south and east being the subject of separate schedulings.
The monument includes a circular mound which measures 35.2m in diameter and is
up to 0.5m high. A surrounding quarry ditch from which material to construct
the mound was derived is preserved as an approximately 3m wide buried feature. 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:
34277
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX39SE9, (1986)
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.
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