Scheduled Monument: Bowl barrow 220m north west of Gore Farm (1015018)

MONUMENT: Bowl barrow 220m north west of Gore Farm PARISH: FONTMELL MAGNA DISTRICT: NORTH DORSET COUNTY: DORSET NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 27346 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): ST88881819 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes a ditched bowl barrow 220m north west of Gore Farm. The barrow mound, which has possibly been modified by ornamental landscaping is small (3m by 2.5m north-south and 0.4m high) and is set eccentrically within a circular bank 3m wide, 0.2m high on its inner side and 0.8m high on its outer side. The platform defined by this bank is 11.2m by 10.8m and is raised above the level of the ground around the monument. Surrounding the mound area is a ditch, 2m wide and 0.3m deep, which is clearly visible only on the western side of the monument where there is a slight outer bank. The ditch has been disturbed by quarrying on the north and south sides. The monument has an overall diameter of 20m. 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. The bowl barrow 220m north west of Gore Farm is a comparatively well preserved example located in a prominent position just below the crest of the hill. Despite the fact that the profile of the barrow mound may have been modified it survives to an overall height of 1m and will contain archaeological remains, providing information about Bronze Age burial practices, economy and environment. SCHEDULING HISTORY Monument included in the Schedule on 12th July 1961 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Dorset 563 NAME: Round barrow north west of Gore Farm The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 27346 NAME: Bowl barrow 220m north west of Gore Farm SCHEDULING REVISED ON 29th April 1996

Record last edited

Oct 11 2024 4:10PM