Summary

Bell barrow 585m west of Hutnage.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 24 September 2015. 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 bell barrow situated on the western slopes of the valley of the River Coln. The barrow survives as a circular mound measuring 26m in diameter and 1.5m high surrounded by a visible berm of 3m wide to the north west and south east surrounded by a 4m wide and from 0.5m up to 1.1m deep quarry ditch from which the construction material was derived and with an outer bank of 6m wide and from 0.3m up to 0.5m high. There is a deep central excavation hollow which produced a central cist and urn containing a cremation, this is on display in the nearby Chedworth Roman villa museum. A blue glass bead is also believed to have originated from this barrow.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Bell barrows, the most visually impressive form of round barrow, are funerary monuments dating to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 1500-1100 BC. They occur either in isolation or in round barrow cemeteries and were constructed as single or multiple mounds covering burials, often in pits, and surrounded by an enclosure ditch. The burials are frequently accompanied by weapons, personal ornaments and pottery and appear to be those of aristocratic individuals, usually men. Bell barrows (particularly multiple barrows) are rare nationally, with less than 250 known examples, most of which are in Wessex. Their richness in terms of grave goods provides evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst early prehistoric communities over most of southern and eastern England as well as providing an insight into their beliefs and social organisation. They are a particularly rare form of round barrow so all identified bell barrows be considered to be of importance.

Despite partial early excavation the bell barrow 585m west of Hutnage will contain further 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 entry 327589

Source: Historic England