Reasons for Designation
Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They comprise
closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows - rubble or earthen mounds
covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries developed over a
considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in some cases acted as
a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period. They exhibit
considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently including
several different types of round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier
long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them,
contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been
revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a
marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other
important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst
their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
The barrow, the southernmost in the Thorn Down cemetery, is well preserved and
represents a good example of its class. Despite partial excavation, the barrow
will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its
construction and use and an understanding of the cemetery of which it is a
part.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow, the southernmost in a linear cemetery of
ten Bronze Age round barrows, seven of which are upstanding, and is situated
along the floor of a dry valley between Thorn Down and Great Litchfield Down.
The barrow mound is 32m in diameter and 3m high. Surrounding the barrow mound
is a ditch from which material was quarried during the construction of the
mound. This has become infilled over the years but survives as a buried
feature 5m wide.
Slight irregularities in the surface of the barrow mound are evidence of the
partial excavation of the barrow undertaken, along with that of others in the
cemetery, in the 19th century. Both cremation and inhumation burials were
found, but the excavation records are such that it is not possible to assign
individual burials to any particular barrow.
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.
