Monument record MDO5066 - Bowl Barrow in the Launceston Down South Group, Tarrant Launceston

A small bowl barrow recorded as a low mound around 12 feet in diameter and one foot high. Excavation in 1938 revealed a pit containing a cremation burial. The barrow is no longer extant as an earthwork.

Round barrows between 200 ft. and 250 ft. above O.D., extend in an irregular line from W.to E. on the northwood-facing slope of a dry combe which falls E. to the Crichel brook. All were excavated in 1938 by S. and C.M Piggott; they are no longer visible on the ground.

A probable Early Bronze Age bowl barrow, part of a cemetery on Launceston Down excavated in 1938. The barrow is no longer extant as an earthwork. Excavation showed the barrow to be a very small mound 12 feet in diameter and 1.1 feet high above the chalk. The mound was contiguous with that of round barrow MDO5067. Beneath the mound was a conical pit 1.4 feet in diameter and 1.4 feet deep. The pit contained a cremation deposit. <1-2> <4>

Visited by MPPA in March 2000, but since all are heavily denuded, not recommended for scheduling. <5>

<1> Society of Antiquaries of London, 1944, Archaeologia 90, Volume 90, p47-80 (Serial). SDO16830.

Piggott, S and CM. Excavation of Barrows on Crichel and Launceston Downs, Dorset. [Barrow 15]

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 135 (Monograph). SDO132.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 95501069:ST 95621064:ST 95881056) Tumuli (NR) (sites of) (NAT) (twice)

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 107 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(39) Bowl (95731061), covering a primary cremation in a pit cut into the chalk; diam. 12 ft., ht. 1 ft. (Piggott, 15).'

<5> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report, SJ Lobb, MPPA, Mar-2000 (Scheduling record). SDO18279.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210103 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1249119 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 23 2024 12:53PM