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.
The three bowl barrows situated on Fawley Down, 580m west of Cheesefoot Head
survive comparatively well, despite disturbance caused by later excavation and
modern ploughing, and can be expected to retain archaeological remains and
environmental evidence relating to the barrows and the environment in which
they were constructed. Their importance is increased by their prominent
location beside the South Downs Way, and by their close proximity to
contemporary monuments, including an additional bowl barrow 550m to the north
west and a cross dyke 200m to the north west, both the subject of separate
schedulings, and aerial photographic evidence of surrounding field systems.
Taken together, the individual elements combine to provide insight to a
surviving Bronze Age landscape.
Details
The monument includes three bowl barrows of late Neolithic or Bronze Age date
(3000-700 BC), situated on Fawley Down 580m west of Cheesefoot Head. The
barrows are prominently situated at the highest point of the Down beside the
modern route of the South Downs Way and command extensive views in all
directions.
Two surviving bowl barrows have been clipped on at least two sides by modern
ploughing. The smaller of the two, to the north west, includes a subcircular
shaped mound, 5m-6m in diameter and 0.7m high, deeply hollowed on the south
east side as a result of later excavation. The Ordnance Survey originally
recorded a shallow ditch surrounding the mound from which material would have
been obtained for the mound's construction. This has now been infilled by
ploughing but can be expected to survive as a buried feature. The larger
mound, 75m to the south east, was originally recorded by the Ordnance Survey
as measuring 16m in diameter, but has now been reduced by ploughing to a
squared-off mound, 12m-13m in diameter and 1m high. There are traces of a
partly infilled ditch, 2m-3m wide, at the northern corner that can be expected
to survive as a buried feature surrounding the barrow. Further buried remains
associated with the original construction and use of both barrows, including
burials, grave pits, burial goods, and the original ground surface, can be
expected to survive beneath and between the mounds. The buried remains of a
surrounding ditch may also survive. The third barrow, situated between the
two, has been heavily disturbed as a result of archaeological excavations
conducted for the Winchester City Museum in 1968. However, some remains will
survive.
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.
