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.
Details
The monument includes two bowl barrows located on Horrington Hill, a
long chalk promontory aligned broadly from north east to south west above
West Horrington, at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills. The barrows,
which are believed to be of Late Neolithic to Bronze Age date are adjoined
from north east to south west are situated on the summit of the hill towards
its western end.
The area in which the barrows are located has been considerably disturbed
in the past by quarrying activity which has caused some disturbance to the
surface of their mounds; and it is now difficult therefore to accurately
survey the barrows at ground level. However, previous fieldwork has
recorded the barrow mounds as each being approximately 13m in diameter and
up to a maximum of 0.5m high. Aerial photographs show the mounds to be
surrounded by a single continuous ditch from which material would have
been quarried during their construction. Although not now visible at
ground level, this ditch survives as a buried feature about 1.5m wide.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
34868
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
