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 group of three bowl barrows on Chalton Down, 860m east of Netherley
Farm survives reasonably well despite later disturbance by ploughing and can
be expected to retain archaeological remains and environmental evidence
relating to the monument and the environment in which it was constructed. The
monument is associated with the recorded sites of at least ten other round
barrows situated on Chalton Down, most of which have now been destroyed. It is
prominently located beside the Staunton Way long distance footpath.
Details
The monument includes a group of three bowl barrows of Late Neolithic or
Bronze Age date, situated along the crest of Chalton Down, a high, north-south
oriented chalk ridge situated near the Hampshire-Sussex border. It is the
surviving remnant of a larger round barrow cemetery, the remainder of which
has been levelled by modern ploughing. Although the two northern barrows of
the group have also been significantly lowered by ploughing, the monument
remains a prominent feature on the down which was a major focus of ritual
activity during the later prehistoric period.
The most substantial, best preserved barrow, to the south, survives as a
steep-sided, circular mound, 20m in average diameter and 1.2m high. It is
hollowed in the centre, indicating later excavation, and has been clipped all
around by ploughing, artificially steepening the flanks of the mound. Traces
of a 3m wide quarry ditch, from which material would have been obtained for
the mound's construction, are visible around the barrow, now partly infilled
as a result of later ploughing. A slight outer bank, previously recorded
around this ditch, is now no longer visible. The two heavily ploughed northern
barrows survive as low, circular or sub-circular mounds, 14m-16m in diameter
and 0.1m to 0.2m high, constructed of flint and chalk rubble. These two
barrows slightly adjoin, and are located on the highest point of the ridge,
with commanding views in all directions. There is no trace of a surrounding
ditch around either, although such ditches can be expected to survive as
buried features, infilled by the later ploughing. Further archaeological
remains associated with the original construction and use of the monument,
including burials, grave pits, burial goods and the original ground surface
can also be expected to survive as buried features beneath and between all
three mounds.
A marker post for the Staunton Way situated on the monument is excluded from
the scheduling, although the ground beneath it 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.
