Ancient Monuments

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Bowl barrow 900m north west of Lower Farm

A Scheduled Monument in Alton Pancras, Dorset

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Coordinates

Latitude: 50.8213 / 50°49'16"N

Longitude: -2.4185 / 2°25'6"W

OS Eastings: 370619.412324

OS Northings: 102502.425039

OS Grid: ST706025

Mapcode National: GBR MZ.XF38

Mapcode Global: FRA 56TX.PMG

Entry Name: Bowl barrow 900m north west of Lower Farm

Scheduled Date: 5 August 1960

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1002862

English Heritage Legacy ID: DO 491

County: Dorset

Civil Parish: Alton Pancras

Traditional County: Dorset

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Dorset

Church of England Parish: Alton Pancras St Pancras

Church of England Diocese: Salisbury

Details

The monument includes a bowl barrow, situated on the upper west facing slopes of the prominent West Hill, overlooking the valley of the River Piddle or Trent and the dry valley of Burnt House Bottom. The barrow survives as a slightly oval mound measuring up to 12m long, 10m wide and 1.2m high. It is surrounded by a buried quarry ditch, from which the construction material was derived. There is an early excavation hollow on the southern side.

Sources: HER:-
PastScape Monument No:-201988

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

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. 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 partial early excavation, the bowl barrow 900m north west of Lower Farm survives well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, longevity, territorial significance, social organisation, funerary and ritual practices and overall landscape context.

Source: Historic England

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