Summary

Bowl barrow called Newton Barrow.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 25 June 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. As such they do not yet have the full descriptions of their modernised counterparts available. Please contact us if you would like further information.

This monument includes a bowl barrow situated on the upper north east facing slopes of a prominent ridge which forms the watershed between the valleys of the Rivers Wylye and Avon. The barrow survives as a circular mound measuring up to 24m in diameter and 1.5m high with a largely buried surrounding quarry ditch from which the construction material was derived visible as a slight depression to the south. The barrow was partially excavated by Colt Hoare in 1805 and a primary burial in a deep grave was found with an amber bead and pierced teeth from either a dog or wolf thought to have been a personal ornament.

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 called Newton Barrow survives well and 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 218321
Wiltshire HER SU13NW673

Source: Historic England