Summary

Bowl barrow 960m WSW of Watcombe Farm.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 2 February 2016. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

This monument includes a bowl barrow situated on the summit of a prominent ridge forming the watershed between the valleys of the Rivers Frome and Cerne. The barrow survives as a circular mound measuring up to 12m in diameter and 1m high with a central hollow which is the result of a partial early excavation. The wood in which the barrow is located is known as ‘Howdes Barrow Plantation’ and thus the barrow is known locally as ‘Howdes or Howds Barrow’. Further archaeological remains survive in the vicinity and are the subject of separate schedulings.

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 some tree growth and early partial excavation the bowl barrow 960m WSW of Watcombe Farm survives comparatively 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

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:-452955

Source: Historic England