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.
Details
The monument, which lies in two separate areas of protection, includes
three bowl barrows located at Green Ore at the eastern end of the Mendip
Hills. All three barrows in the group are located on relatively high
ground at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills and only a few kilometers
east of the major barrow concentrations at Priddy.
The mound of the northernmost barrow, referred to as Fford's or Forge
Barrow in boundary charters of the 18th century, has dimensions of 14m in
diameter and is up to 2m in height. Part of the mound on the north side of
the barrow has been destroyed by the construction of a modern road. The
mound of a second barrow located just to the south west of this is 15m in
diameter and approximately 1.75m high.
A further bowl barrow is located some 400m to the south west at the
junction of several fields. It is visible as an irregular mound of 15m
diameter and 1m in height. Part of the east side of the mound has been
disturbed, probably by the addition of later field and woodland
boundaries. In common with other barrows in the area all three mounds are
surrounded by ditches from which material was quarried during their
construction. Although these are no longer visible at ground level they
survive in the form of buried features approximately 2m wide.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
35301
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
