Round barrow 470m north of Keeper's Cottage

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.

Despite limited disturbance, the round barrow 470m north of Keeper's Cottage has survived well. It is thought to be among only a few burial monuments identified in the Dalby Forest area which do not appear to have been excavated in the past and it will therefore have undisturbed archaeological deposits in the centre relating to the primary burial, which are less likely to survive in part-excavated examples. Important evidence for earlier land use and the contemporary environment will also survive beneath the barrow mound. The barrow lies in an area where there are many other prehistoric burial monuments. The association with similar monuments provides insight into the distribution of ritual and funerary activity across the landscape during the prehistoric period.

Details

The monument includes a round barrow which is situated towards the southern edge of the Tabular Hills, on a gentle south-facing slope overlooking the valley of Ox Dale. The barrow has an earth and stone mound which measures 9m in diameter and stands up to 0.7m high. The barrow lies in an area which has many other prehistoric monuments, including further burials and the remains of prehistoric land division.

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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

35153

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Northern Archaeological Associates, , North York Moors Forest Survey Phase Two, (1996)

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