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 Beaulieu Heath round barrow cemetery contains a variety of barrow types,
the full range of which survive within this part of the monument. Although
some of the barrow mounds have been reduced in size or partially disturbed,
all of the barrows retain undisturbed remains and the cemetery as a whole has
considerable archaeological potential. The New Forest region is known to have
been important in terms of lowland Bronze Age occupation and a considerable
amount of archaeological evidence has survived because of a lack of
agricultural activity, the result of later climatic deterioration and the
establishment of a Royal Forest.
Details
This monument includes two bowl barrows, two bell barrows and a fancy barrow
situated on lowland heath overlooking Holbury village. One bell barrow is
situated in the north-eastern part of the cluster. The barrow mound measures
16m in diameter, stands up to 2m high and is surrounded by a 2.5m wide berm or
platform. A hollow in the centre of the mound suggests previous partial
excavation or exploration. The ditch, from which material was quarried during
the construction of the barrow, surrounds the berm. This has become partly
infilled over the years but survives as a 2.4m wide and 0.7m deep earthwork.
The second barrow which lies 34m to the south has been identified as a fancy
barrow. The site is 13m in diameter and defined by a 3m wide and 0.2m high
bank, with a small break in the north-western side and an outer quarry ditch
1.6m wide and 0.3m deep. A slight elongated mound in the interior of the
earthwork may represent a small central barrow mound. The third, and most
substantial barrow lies 36m to the west, and has been identified as a bell
barrow. The surviving mound measures 26m long, 20m wide and stands up to 5m
high. A hollow in the top of the mound suggests previous partial excavation
or exploration. A 3m wide berm survives on the northern side of the mound,
but is not visible on the south where the construction of a shooting butt has
obscured this feature. The berm is surrounded by the quarry ditch which
survives as a 3m wide and 0.5m deep earthwork on the north side and as a
buried feature elsewhere. Two parallel banks, leading south from the southern
edge of the mound, are part of the later shooting butt. The fourth barrow
lies 16m to the west and is defined by a bank measuring 0.8m wide and up to
0.3m high defining an area 9m across. A low mound in the centre of this
earthwork measures 2.5m long, 2m wide and 0.1m high. This feature has been
identified as a bowl barrow, though it now resembles a fancy barrow. Although
no longer visible, the ditch, from which material was quarried during the
construction of the barrow, survives as a buried feature. The fifth barrow
lies 10m to the west and, although no longer visible at ground level, an 8m
diameter circular patch of darker grass indicates the position of this bowl
barrow. Some of the mound probably survives and the quarry ditch exists as a
buried feature.
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.
