Details

The monument is Skellaw Hill bowl barrow. It is located towards the southern
end of the summit ridge of Skellaw Hill and includes a circular mound of earth
and stones 17m in diameter and up to 1.5m high. Limited antiquarian
investigation of the mound located human bones. Two pieces of chert were also
found.

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.

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. There are over 10,000 surviving bowl
barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring
across most of lowland Britain. 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
and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection.

Despite past ploughing and limited antiquarian investigation Skellaw Hill bowl
barrow survives well. This investigation located human bones and chert, and
further evidence of interments and grave goods will exist within the mound and
upon the old landsurface.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Darvill,T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Bowl Barrows, (1988)
SMR No. 1567, Cumbria SMR, Skellaw Hill Barrow, (1985)

Source: Historic England