Reasons for Designation
Bowl barrows, the most numerous form of round barrow, are funerary monuments dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC. They were constructed as earthen or rubble mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered single or multiple burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as cemeteries and often acted as a focus for burials in later periods. Often superficially similar, although differing widely in size, they exhibit regional variations in form and a diversity of burial practices. There are over 10,000 surviving bowl barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring across most of lowland Britain. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable variation of form and longevity as a monument type provide important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisations amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period. Despite reduction in the heights of the mounds through past cultivation, the two bowl barrows 385m south east of Higher Tregolls survive comparatively well and appear to have differing underlying constructional characteristics. They will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to their construction, relative chronologies, territorial significance, social organisation, ritual and funerary practices and overall landscape context.
Details
The monument, which falls into two areas of protection, includes two bowl barrows, situated at the summit of a prominent ridge, overlooking the valley of a tributary to the River Camel. The south western barrow survives as a low circular flat-topped mound measuring up to 16m in diameter and 0.6m high with a few protruding stones at the perimeter indicating a retaining kerb. The north eastern barrow survives as a circular mound measuring up to 20m in diameter and 1.5m high. Both mounds are surrounded by quarry ditches, from which their construction material was obtained, which are preserved as buried features.
Sources: HER:-
PastScape Monument No:-430305 and 430310
