Scheduled Monument: Bowl barrow in Bartletts Firs (1014296)

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 in Bartlett's Firs survives comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed. History Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Details The monument includes a bowl barrow situated on a river terrace along the northern edge of Stoborough Heath within the Isle of Purbeck, overlooking the Frome Valley to the north. The barrow has a mound composed of earth, sand and turf with a maximum diameter of 20m and a maximum height of c.1.5m. This is surrounded by a ditch from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument. The ditch survives on the western side of the mound as an earthwork with maximum dimensions of 2.5m in width and c.0.3m in depth. Elsewhere, the ditch has become infilled, although it will survive as a buried feature. 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. Selected Sources Other Reference - Author: Lloyd A - Title: AM 107 - Date: 1981 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Uneven topped mound Other Reference - Author: RCHME - Title: NAR - Date: 1950 - Type: SMR - Description: Flat topped mound National Grid Reference: SY 91643 8570

Record last edited

Oct 11 2024 11:45AM