Reasons for Designation
Round barrows are funerary monuments constructed as earthen mounds which
covered single or multiple burials, often in pits. Bell barrows, the most
visually impressive form, date to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, with most
examples belonging to the period 1500-1100 BC. They were constructed as single
or multiple mounds, surrounded by a berm and an enclosure ditch, covering
burials that are frequently accompanied by weapons, personal ornaments and
pottery and appear to be those of aristocratic individuals, usually men. Bell
barrows are rare nationally, with less than 250 known examples, most of which
are in Wessex. Their richness in terms of grave goods provides evidence for
chronological and cultural links amongst early prehistoric communities over
most of southern and eastern England as well as providing an insight into
their beliefs and social organisation. Bowl barrows, by comparison, are
relatively common with over 10,000 surviving examples recorded nationally,
occurring across most of lowland Britain with some variations in form and
burial practices. They were constructed as simple earthen or rubble mounds,
sometimes ditched, and date from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze
Age (2400-1500 BC). Both bell and bowl barrows occur either in isolation or
grouped as cemeteries, usually occupying prominent locations, and often acted
as a focus for burials in later periods. They are particularly representative
of their period and all identified bell barrows and a substantial proportion
of surviving bowl barrows are considered worthy of protection.
The bell barrow and bowl barrow at Kitson's Clumps survive well despite some
later disturbance and can be expected to retain archaeological remains and
environmental evidence relating to monument and the environment in which it
was constructed. Their highly visible location beside a public right of way,
and their modern association with a memorial to Richard Kitson, a man of
prominence in the local community, add to their importance.
Details
The monument includes a bell barrow and a bowl barrow, both of probable Bronze
Age date (2400-700 BC), prominently situated at the end of a chalk ridge
overlooking the River Dever 500m to the south. They are located on a slight
promontory within a copse of trees known formerly as Cranbourne Clump but now
renamed as Kitson Clumps in memory of Richard Kitson, died 1992, for whom a
memorial plaque has been erected on the monument. The monument commands
extensive views in all directions.
The two barrows are aligned roughly east-west along the ridge. The bowl barrow
lies to the west and includes a roughly circular mound, 21m in diameter and
1.2m high. The mound is deeply hollowed in the centre, indicating that it has
been disturbed by later excavation. The bell barrow lies 16m to the ENE and
includes a flat-topped, circular mound, 24m in diameter, surrounded by a 6m
wide berm. It stands up to 1.4m high and is flanked to the north east by a
shallow, partly infilled ditch, 5m wide, further traces of which can be seen
surrounding the barrow. A similar ditch, from which material would have been
obtained for the construction of the mound, is likely to have surrounded the
bowl barrow but has been infilled by later ploughing. Two bronze daggers found
on the surface of the bell barrow's mound are now in the Winchester Museum.
Further buried remains associated with the construction and use of both
barrows, including burials, grave pits, burial goods, and the original ground
surface, can be expected to survive beneath the mounds and in the area lying
between them.
The wooden fences and the memorial plaque situated on the monument are
excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.
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.
