Round barrow in Dalby Forest, 870m east of Ebberston Common House

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 disturbance, the round barrow in Dalby Forest, 870m east of Ebberston Common House has surviving archaeological deposits which will preserve significant information about the original form of the barrow and the burials placed within it. Evidence for earlier land use and the contemporary environment will also survive beneath the barrow mound. The barrow is one of a pair which is situated close to a prehistoric linear boundary in an area which also includes many other burial monuments and remains of prehistoric land division. The relationships between these monuments are important for understanding the division and use of the landscape for social, ritual and agricultural purposes during the later prehistoric period.

Details

The monument includes a round barrow which is situated on a gentle west-facing slope on the central plateau of the Tabular Hills. The barrow has an earth and stone mound which stands up to 0.6m high. Formerly, the mound had a maximum diameter of 15m, but it has been truncated by forestry ploughing so that now it measures only 9m in diameter. Whilst upstanding remains have been truncated below ground, remains of the full extent of the barrow will survive and are included in the area of protection. The barrow is one of a pair and 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:

35156

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

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

Other
Title: Ordnance Survey 2nd Edition 25" sheet 76/11 Source Date: 1912 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:

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