Monument record MDO5067 - Bowl Barrow in the Launceston Down South Group, Tarrant Launceston

A bowl barrow recorded as being a mound around 17 feet in diameter and less than one foot high. Excavation revealed a central grave containing a crouched burial with a bell beaker, and a second burial in the form of a cremation inserted into the mound.

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 small bowl barrow, part of a cemetery on Launceston Down excavated in 1938. The barrow mound was 17 feet in diameter and up to 0.5 feet high above the natural chalk, and was contiguous with the mound of MDO5066. Below the mound, and roughly central to it, was a sub-rectangular grave pit containing a crouched inhumation with a Beaker placed at its feet. The skull featured evidence of trepanning, a roundel of bone having been detached from the skull and placed back in position at some time prior to burial. A worked flint flake also lay near the skeleton's feet, on the floor of the grave, and a partially burnt flint pick was among the grave backfill. A secondary cremation pit had been dug immediately to the north of the grave pit and partly cut into it. <1-2> <5>

Primary crouched inhumation with trephined skull and Bi beaker; rough flint pick in filling of grave. Secondary cremation. <3>

Piggott's location map (op cit) shows barrow € lying slightly N of barrows (D) and (F). It is probably therefore situated at ST 95741062. <6>

Visited by MPPA in March 2000, but since all are heavily denuded, not recommended for scheduling. <7>

<1> 1940, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 6, Vol 6, p112-132 (Serial). SDO18408.

Piggott, S. A trepanned skull of the Beaker period from Dorset and the practice of trepanning in prehistoric Europe.

<2> Society of Antiquaries of London, 1944, Archaeologia 90, Vol 90, p47-80 (Serial). SDO16830.

Piggott, S and CM. Excavation of Barrows on Crichel and Launceston Downs, Dorset. [Barrow 14]

<3> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 135 (Monograph). SDO132.

<4> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

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

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 107 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(40) Bowl (95741058), containing a primary crouched inhumation with a trephined skull, associated with a bell beaker, in a central grave cut into the chalk, and a secondary cremation near it; diam. 17 ft., ht. less than 1 ft. (Piggott, 14).'

<6> Jackson, Susan J, Ordnance Survey Field Investigator's comments SJJ, R1 SJJ 9-MAY-78 (Unpublished document). SDO18921.

<7> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report, SJ Lobb, MPPA, Mar-2000 (Scheduling record). SDO18279.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210103 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1249126 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 23 2024 12:53PM