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 in a low-lying area of clay and
gravel adjacent to a stream. The barrow has a mound up to 12m in diameter and
0.2m in height. Partial excavation in 1933 revealed that the core of the mound
was comprised of burnt earth and charcoal, sealed beneath which the old land
surface was visible as a black layer formed by decayed vegetation. The mound
had been degraded by ploughing prior to excavation and the only finds, two
pieces of grey ware pot bases and a bead-rim of sandy grey ware, all of which
came from its upper surface and date to approximately the early first century
AD, are thought to be the result of subsequent activity on the site. The
pottery was similar to material recovered from a Romano-British settlement
250m to the south, excavated between 1933 and 1948 but subsequently destroyed
through cliff erosion.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
33960
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
