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 three bowl barrows 470m and 460m west of Bolotho survive reasonably well,
their mounds being clearly visible. Despite reduction by ploughing, the mounds
remain substantially intact, as will the underlying old land surface and any
surviving original deposits associated with the mound and the old land
surface. Their location within a ridge top barrow cemetery, with other barrows
beyond this scheduling, illustrates well the important role of topography in
Bronze Age funerary activity.
Details
The scheduling includes three prehistoric bowl barrows, situated above a
gentle slope at the south east end of a ridge north of Carnon Downs. The two
northernmost barrows form a neighbouring pair, with the third 120m to their
south. These barrows are closely associated with others beyond this
scheduling, together forming a ridge top barrow cemetery. This scheduling is
divided into two separate areas of protection.
The two neighbouring barrows have similar mounds, measuring 21m in diameter
and approximately 0.4m high. Their exposed fabric consists of earth and
stones, a substantial proportion of the larger stones being white quartz.
The barrow to the south has a mound 17m in diameter and up to 0.3m high, being
more prominent on its south side where it projects from a gentle natural
slope. Its exposed fabric of earth and small stones appears to contain less
quartz than the barrows to the north.
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.
