Four round barrows 270m north west of Higher Trevibban Farm

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 modification by ploughing, the four round barrows 270m north west of Higher Trevibban Farm survive fairly well. The underlying old land surfaces, and remains of any structures or other deposits associated with these and with the upstanding earthworks, will also survive. The ridgetop location illustrates the important role of topography in prehistoric funerary activity.

Details

The scheduling includes four prehistoric round barrows, situated on near level ground and a slight north east slope, on top of a ridge north of St Columb Major. They are associated with other barrows beyond this scheduling, forming an outlying group within a wider hill and ridgetop barrow cemetery. The scheduling is divided into four separate areas of protection. The barrows in the group are fairly closely and evenly spaced. The gaps between them vary from around 150m to 250m. Taking first the barrow on the south west in the scheduling, this has a slightly oval plan, its dimensions being 25.9m north-south by 22.6m east-west. It has an earth and stone mound of platform type with a flattish top around 0.7m high, modified by limited antiquarian excavation, and ploughing. An old account of the barrow records a kerb of retaining stones around the base of the mound. There is no secure evidence for an external ditch. The next barrow to the east, the most northerly in the scheduling, is oval in plan, measuring around 16m east-west by 13m north-south. Its mound, reduced by cultivation, is visible on the ground as a slight rise. It is made of earth and rubble stones 0.1m-0.2m across, many of which are white quartz. There is no evidence for a ditch surrounding the mound. Further east again is the barrow in the centre of the group. This has a sub-circular mound in the region of 19.5m across and 0.5m high, with a gently curving profile, modified by ploughing. The mound contains earth with quartz stones about 0.1m across. No surrounding ditch is known. The easternmost barrow has an oval mound extending approximately 19m north-south and 17m east-west; it is reduced by ploughing but is up to 0.6m high on the north east side where it projects from a slight natural slope. Again, there is no evidence for an external ditch. All modern fencing 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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

32982

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map Source Date: 1908 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: Date approx.
Title: Ordnance Survey Index Card Source Date: 1972 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: SW 96 NW 23
Title: Ordnance Survey 1" Map Source Date: 1810 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: Date approx
Title: Little Petherick Tithe Apportionment Source Date: 1842 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: 407
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map Source Date: 1880 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: Date approx.
Title: Cornwall Mapping Project Source Date: 1995 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:
SW 96 NW 23, Quinnell, NV, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1977)
SW 96 NW 21, Quinnell, NV, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1977)
Saunders, AD, AM7, (1958)
Young, A to Parkes, C, (2003)
SW 96 NW 22, Fletcher, MJ, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1972)
SW 96 NW 22, Quinnell, NV, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1977)

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.