Monument record MDO2272 - Bronze Age barrow, The Knoll, Puncknowle

One of three barrows situated on the Knoll. A bowl barrow reported in 1952 as being 33 feet in diameter with a mound about five feet high. Visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs and digitally plotted for the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

One of three barrows situated on the Knoll. Bowl barrow, 33ft. in diam and 5ft. high (RCHM). Visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs {1} and digitally plotted for the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.
Centre had been robbed in medieval times disturbing primary interment which comprised scattered burnt bones, with sherds of large Bronze Age urn on old ground surface. Above this were the remains of a medieval cooking vessel . On south side was secondary cremation with crushed fragmentary vessel, nearby were the remains of a bucket urn. (Grinsell)

A bowl barrow; diameter 20 paces, height 3ft. <2>

Similar information. <3>

A bowl barrow under the plough, which has exposed large stones at the top of the mound. The barrow has a diameter of 21.0m, and a height of 1.3m. A ditch 4.0m wide and 0.4m deep is now visible on the S or uphill side. <4>

SY 53478791 Puncknowle 2. Bowl barrow 20 paces diameter and 3 ft high. It was excavated by E Greenfield in 1959 for the Ministry of Works. The centre had been robbed in medieval times, disturbing the primary interment which comprised scattered burnt bones with sherds of a large Bronze Age urn on the old ground surface. In and above this deposit were sherds of a medieval cooking vessel left by the robbers. The interment was covered by a cairn and above this was a mound of sandy soil probably derived from the encircling wide and shallow ditch. On the south side of the barrow was a secondary cremation with a crushed fragmentary vessel, and nearby were probable remains of a bucket urn. Finds in Dorset County Museum, Accn no 1962-12.2. <5-7>

Full excavation report. <8>

Simons, M A, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: note on old Dorset SMR card, June 1984 (Verbal communication). SDO17553.

'Visible as a slight swelling in ley pasture.'

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1903 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY53478791) Tumulus (NR)

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1935-54, Dorset Barrows 1935-54 Manuscript (Unpublished document). SWX1556.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 191 (Monograph). SDO97.

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 07-APR-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 129 (Monograph). SDO132.

<6> Prehistoric Society, 1960, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 26, 343 (Serial). SDO19733.

<7> Grinsell, L V, 1982, Dorset Barrows Supplement, 499 (Monograph). SWX1703.

<8> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1985, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1984, 63-76 (Serial). SDO84.

<8> Greenfield, E, 1985, The Excavation of Three Round Barrows at Puncknowle, Dorset, 1959 (Article in serial). SWX1646.

<9> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3310-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12156.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450523 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 16 2025 4:18PM