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 bowl barrow 130m south west of Gaylands is well preserved, having been
protected by overlying deposits of peat and clay. It will contain a wealth of
information relating to the barrow's construction, the manner and duration of
its use, as well as ritual and domestic activity on the site. Buried soils
underneath the mound will retain valuable archaeological evidence concerning
landuse in the area prior to the construction of the barrow, while organic
deposits preserved in the ditch will shed light on environmental conditions
(eg climate, flora and fauna) since the construction of the barrow. The
monument has additional importance as part of a diffuse barrow landscape.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow situated 130m south west of Gaylands in
the Milking Nook hamlet. The barrow has been covered and protected by
overlying deposits of marine clay and peat, from which the mound emerges. It
is visible as a gravel rise, which stands up to 1.2m high with a 38m
diameter. The deeper lying remains of the barrow are preserved underneath the
Fen deposits and include an encircling ditch, from which earth was dug in the
construction of the mound. It has become infilled over the years, but
survives as a buried feature, which is visible as a cropmark on aerial
photographs (an area of enhanced growth resulting from higher levels of
moisture retained by the underlying archaeological feature). By comparison
with examples excavated elsewhere in the area, it is thought to measure 5m
wide.
The barrow is situated on river gravels along the prehistoric Fen edge, a
location that, with its mixture of wetter and drier grounds and easy access
along the waterways, attracted prehistoric activity. It is part of a diffuse
barrow landscape, elements of which are subject to separate schedulings.
The modern surfacing of Glinton Road 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.
