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.
Details
The monument includes a round barrow situated on level ground overlooking the
sea to the north and east. It is one of a group of similar monuments lying
between the sea and the predominantly heather covered moorland to the east.
The area has been enclosed and brought into agricultural use however it is
known that the prehistoric period saw intensive use of the land for
agricultural and ritual purposes. Some remains of these activities survive
today.
The barrow has an earth and stone mound shown on a map in 1928 to measure 15m
in diameter. Although subsequently reduced by agricultural activity the
remains can still be seen as a low mound measuring 0.2m high. The mound was
surrounded by a ditch up to 3m wide which has been filled in and is no longer
visible as an earthwork.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
34804
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
