Monument record MDO7312 - Bowl Barrow on Knowle Hill, Church Knowle

A bowl barrow situated on Knowle Hill. It has a mound composed of earth, flint and chalk, with a maximum diameter of 18m and a maximum height of c0.7m. This is surrounded by a quarry ditch which survives as a buried feature. Probably opened by J H Austen, primary crouched interment in deep grave cut in chalk, antler fragments, potsherds, and shale among the chalk, near centre were two subsequent primary crouched interments, one had head to North North East and was in a grave lined with flagstones at the head and foot, near the surface was an extended inhumation (Romano-British or possibly pagan Saxon).

(SY 94388238) Tumulus (NR). <1>

On September 20th 1856 the Reverend J H Austen excavated the "largest of the barrows upon Knowle Hill" (200 paces west of a group of 4 other barrows - see SY 98 SW 17 - and evidently the one published as above). At a depth of 2' at the centre a stretched out skeleton was found oriented west by north and east by south with stones positioned so as to protect it. 9 1/2 ft. west of the centre a square cist was found measuring 2'8" 'in diameter', with double flag-stones set on edge at the north and south sides; the other sides being unprotected. At the bottom of the cist (which was hollowed out of the native chalk to a depth of 4' from the top of the barrow) was a burial with the knees gathered up oriented NNE-SSW (illustrated). Two of the lumbar vertebrae appeared to have been deliberately dislocated.

Nine feet SE of the centre of the barrow a second square cist was discovered about 18" below the surface. It measured 3' 8" by 2' 8" and was formed of stones set up on edge and supporting a covering of thin slabs; these however had fallen in "and so completely crushed the upper portion of the skeleton that there remained only a layer of bone reduced to powder". The body had been oriented in the same direction as the previous one and also had the knees gathered up. Under the first mentioned deposit at the centre of the barrow was "a cist of from 8 to 9ft., in diameter which proved to be 9 1/2 ft. in depth." It contained a skeleton over which lumps of chalk had been carefully packed "in such a manner as to protect the body". The skeleton was of an old and large man and the legs were "so truly doubled up that the heels touched the thigh-bones". Amongst the chalk were found 2 small pieces of stags horn, two fragments of "British pottery", and a piece of Kimmeridge shale. <1>

An almost identical account said to have been communicated by Rev. J H Austen to the Journal of the Archaeological Institute. <2>

The barrow now has a diameter of 18.0m and a height of 1.0m. and has no surrounding ditch. It has been ploughed over and there are no visible signs of its excavation by Austen. <5>

SW (should be SY) 94398238. Bowl barrow on N. edge of Knowle Hill above 400 ft. contour, crossed by parish boundary with Corfe Castle on N. Diam. 47ft. ht. 4 1/2 ft. in arable. Opened 1856 by Austen who found a central primary contracted inhumation in a chalk-cut grave, 8ft. to 9ft. in diam. and 9 1/2 ft. deep, with antler, pottery and shale fragments in the chalk packing. Two contracted inhumations in stone cists lay 9ft. W. and S.E. of centre; 2ft. below top lay an extended inhumation protected by stones. Apparent overlap with cross-dyke on W. probably due to excavation spoil. <7>

SY 945824. Three round barrows on Knowle Hill, Scheduled Dorset 707. (Includes two barrows, SY 98 SW 17). <8>

SY 94398237. Church Knowle 7. Bowl barrow listed by Grinsell, details as above. He suggests that the extended cremation may have been Romano British or possibly pagan Saxon. <6>

This ploughed and spread round barrow remains as described.

Published 1/2500 survey revised.

Hole in Centre, adjoins Cross-ridge dyke. Probably opened by J H Austen, primary crouched interment in deep grave cut in chalk, antler fragments, potsherds, and shale among the chalk, near centre were two subsequent primary crouched interments, one had head to North North East and was in a grave lined with flagstones at the head and foot, near the surface was an extended inhumation (Romano-British or possibly pagan Saxon).

Bronze Age bowl barrow visible as earthworks on aerial photographs <4 and 13> and digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Austen, J H, 1856-7, Purbeck Papers (1856-7), 110-113 (Monograph). SWX2801.

<2> Warne, C, 1866, The Celtic Tumuli of Dorset (1866), 12 (Monograph). SWX8166.

Tumuli Opened at Various periods 64-7 No 89 (C Warne)

<2.1> Proceedings of the Archaeological Institute (Serial). SDO19703.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1929 (Map). SWX1540.

<4> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2412-13 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13498.

<5> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 16-JUL-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<6> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 101 (Monograph). SDO132.

<6.1> Hutchins, J, 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 1. 3rd edition, 595-6 (Monograph). SDO12569.

<7> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 442, No 40 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(40) Bowl (SY 98 SW; 94398238) on N. edge of Knowle Hill above 400 ft. contour, crossed by parish boundary with Corfe Castle on N. (Fig. opp. p. 509). Diam. 47 ft., ht. 4½ ft., in arable. Opened 1856 by Austen who found a central primary contracted inhumation in a chalk-cut grave, 8 ft. to 9 ft. in diam. and 9½ ft. deep, with antler, pottery and shale fragments in the chalk packing. Two contracted inhumations in stone cists lay 9 ft. W. and S.E. of centre; 2 ft. below top lay an extended inhumation protected by stones. Apparent overlap with cross-dyke (56e) on W. probably due to excavation spoil. (Purbeck Papers I, 110–15; Hutchins I, 595–6.)’

<8> 1978, List of ancient monuments in England: Volume 1, Northern England; Volume 2, Southern England; Volume 3, East Anglia and the Midlands Vol 2, 62 (Monograph). SWX2557.

<9> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 223 (Index). SDO147.

‘Situated on grassland, occasionally ploughed and used for pasture. A low rise ploughed over but not badly damaged. Crossed E-W on the N. perimeter by the Corfe parish boundary. A cross ridge dyke passes immediately W. of the barrow. Past excavation not visible on the earthworks. 1/2/C.’

<10> Fletcher, M J, RCHME Field Investigation, 30-APR-1986 (Unpublished document). SDO19701.

<11> DCMS, 14-FEB-1997, English Heritage Schedule Entry 14/02/1997 (Scheduling record). SDO19702.

<12> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<13> National Monuments Record, 18-NOV-2005, NMR SY 9482/3-5; 10-11 (NMR 24139/42-4; 49-50) (Aerial Photograph). SDO13508.

<14> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456936 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 22 2024 12:47PM