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. Despite plough damage, the bowl barrow 210m south of West Soar survives well.
Its mound may contain remains of a burial, while its ditches will contain
archaeological and environmental information relating to the barrow and the
landscape in which it was constructed.
Details
This monument includes a Late Neolithic to Bronze Age bowl barrow on a level
hilltop, with wide local views.
The barrow survives as a low ovoid mound of earth and stones, 11m wide, 17m
long and 0.6m high, with a central depression 4m wide, 8m long and 0.3m deep.
Several large stone slabs lie in this depression, one of which is in situ at
the centre of the mound and measures 1m long, 0.3m wide and 0.4m high. An
encircling quarry ditch measures from 5m to 8m wide and 0.2m deep. 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:
34882
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other MPP fieldwork by R Waterhouse, Waterhouse, R, (2000)
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.
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