Reasons for Designation
A small number of areas in southern England appear to have acted as foci for
ceremonial and ritual activity during the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age
periods. Two of the best known and earliest recognised, with references in the
17th century, are around Avebury and Stonehenge, now jointly designated as a
World Heritage Site. In the Avebury area, the henge monument itself, the West
Kennet Avenue, the Sanctuary, West Kennet long barrow, Windmill Hill
causewayed enclosure and the enigmatic Silbury Hill are well-known. Whilst the
other Neolithic long barrows, the many Bronze Age round barrows and other
associated sites are less well-known, together they define one of the richest
and most varied areas of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial and ritual
monuments in the country. Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age
(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 and occasionally associated
with earlier long barrows. Where investigation beyond the round barrows has
occurred, contemporary or later `flat' burials between the barrow mounds have
often been revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland
England with a marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases they are
clustered around other important contemporary monuments, as is the case both
here and at Stonehenge. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major
historic element in the modern landscape, while their diversity and their
longevity as a monument type provide important information on the variety of
beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. All
examples are considered worthy of protection.
The barrow east of Windmill Hill is one of a group of barrows spread across
the slope to the south-east of Windmill Hill and which overlook Avebury and
the River Kennet.
Despite cultivation and partial excavation in 1849, the barrow survives as an
earthwork and contains archaeological remains and environmental evidence
relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow set on a gentle south-east facing slope,
overlooking the River Kennet and the village of Avebury. The barrow mound has
been reduced by cultivation but survives to a maximum diameter of 24m and is
0.35m high. Surrounding the mound is a ditch from which material was quarried
during the construction of the monument. This has become infilled over the
years but survives as a buried feature c.3m wide. The site is believed to be
one of those excavated by Merewether in 1849. Finds included part of a human
skull, many animal bones, pottery fragments and a barbed and tanged arrowhead.
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.
