Reasons for Designation
Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They comprise
closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows - rubble or earthen mounds
covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries developed over a
considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in some cases acted as
a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period. They exhibit
considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently including
several different types of round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier
long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them,
contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been
revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a
marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other
important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst
their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
Details
The monument includes a round barrow cemetery containing five barrows of
bowl, bell and platform type, situated on the ESE shoulder of a ridge
south west of Carland Cross. They are closely associated with four
other barrows, which form outliers to the cemetery and are the subject
of separate schedulings. The five barrows are fairly closely and evenly
spaced, with three aligned across the gentle slope of the land and are
contained in four separate areas of protection.
The two barrows on the south side of the group are aligned north
west-south east. The south east barrow of the pair has a grassy mound 30m
in diameter and around 1.8m high; its edges are rather spread, but it has
a more rounded profile in the centre, indicating that it was originally a
bowl shaped mound. A smooth lump on its southern side may be upcast from
the cutting of a modern pond just beyond the barrow. A slight waterlogged
area west of the mound is considered to represent the buried ditch which
encircles it. The north western of these two barrows has a grassy mound
35m in diameter and around 1m high, with gently sloping sides and a
flattened top, suggesting it was of platform type. The sides of the mound
have been clipped by ploughing, leaving parallel ridges. In 1898 remains
of a ditch were noted.
To the north, the scheduling includes a prominent bell barrow, known as
Killigrew Barrow after the estate on which it lay. Its mound is 17m in
diameter and 2.5m high, steep sided with a flatter but uneven top. Quartz
blocks around its base are considered to be part of a kerb of stones set
in the perimeter of the mound. An irregular depression in the centre of
the top was probably caused by an antiquarian excavation. It was
described as a fine bell barrow in 1898, implying a surrounding level area
and outer ditch. There is a depression averaging 3m wide outside the
mound, considered to be the remains of this ditch. To the west of
Killigrew Barrow is a bowl barrow with a grassy mound 34m in diameter and
1.7m high. Its edges have been spread, leaving a more rounded profile in
the centre. A slight depression to the west of the mound is considered to
be the remains of an outer ditch.
The western barrow in the scheduling is aligned with the southern pair.
This barrow has a grassy mound 30m in diameter and 1m high. It was
described as probably a broad or platform barrow in 1898.
All modern posts and fences are excluded from the scheduling, although the
ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
32903
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
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
