Scheduled Monument: Bowl barrow on Poor Common 370m north east of Holmwood (1018414)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Bowl barrow on Poor Common 370m north east of Holmwood PARISH: FERNDOWN TOWN DISTRICT: EAST DORSET COUNTY: DORSET NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 31055 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SZ07209891 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes a bowl barrow, at the edge of low plateau, on Poor Common 370m north east of Holmwood. The barrow has a mound, about 15m in diameter and up to 0.5m in height, surrounded by a sub-circular quarry ditch, 0.8m wide and up to 1m deep. Partial excavation in 1997 revealed that the mound had been constructed using a core of deliberately cut turves covered by soil from the quarry ditch. Ploughing in the past has reduced the height of the mound and probably encroached on its western side. The mound has also been disturbed by animal burrows in the past. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE 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 disturbance by ploughing the barrow on Poor Common 370m north east of Holmwood is well preserved and partial excavation has provided an insight into its construction method. It will contain archaeological remains providing information about Bronze Age burial practices, economy and environment. SCHEDULING HISTORY Monument's inclusion in the Schedule was confirmed on 9th October 1981. Monument included as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Dorset 95h NAME: Round barrow N or Belle Vue Plantation The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 31055 NAME: Bowl barrow on Poor Common 370m north east of Holmwood SCHEDULING REVISED ON 19th March 1999

Record last edited

Oct 7 2024 11:07AM