Details

The monument includes ten Bronze Age round barrows aligned SW-NE, forming the
core of a round barrow cemetery situated on the south-facing slope of West
Down.
The individual barrows, from north-east to south-west, can be described as
follows:
(SU07576875) A well preserved bowl barrow, the mound of which measures 19m in
diameter and stands up to 1.8m high. Surrounding the mound is a quarry ditch
from which material was obtained during the construction of the barrow. This
survives as a partially infilled depression 5m wide and c.0.3m deep.
The barrow was partially excavated by Hoare who found a primary cremation
burial in an oval cist. Sherds of 'Beaker' style pottery have also been found
on this barrow.
(SU07566873) A bowl barrow which has suffered some disturbance due to
excavation in the past but which survives with a mound 12m in diameter and
0.4m high. Surrounding the mound is a partially infilled quarry ditch c.2.5m
wide and 0.3m deep. The barrow was partially excavated by Colt Hoare during
the last century, although he is not thought to have disturbed the primary
burial.
(SU07536871) A well preserved bowl barrow, the mound of which measures 16m in
diameter and stands up to 1.2m high. Surrounding the mound is a partially
infilled quarry ditch c.6.5m wide and up to 0.3m deep, the northern side of
which falls beneath a rough track which runs between the barrow and those to
the north-east.
(SU07496869) A bowl barrow, the mound of which measures 15m in diameter and
stands up to 1.2m high. Surrounding the mound, but no longer visible at ground
level, is a quarry ditch which survives as buried feature c.2.5m wide.
(SU07486868) A bowl barrow, the mound of which has been reduced by cultivation
but which survives as a slight earthwork c.10m in diameter and 0.3m high.
Surrounding the mound, but no longer visible at ground level, is a quarry
ditch. This is visible as a 3m wide soil mark on aerial photographs.
The barrow was partially excavated by Colt Hoare in 1812 when it was found to
contain a small deposit of burnt bones within an earthen mound.
(SU07476867) A levelled bowl barrow, visible on aerial photographs, the quarry
ditch of which survives below ground defining an overall area 13m across.
According to Colt Hoare, writing in 1821, this barrrow had previously been
opened and robbed.
(SU07456865) A levelled bowl barrow, with an overall diameter of 19m. It
survives as a buried and spread mound, visible on aerial photographs. When
excavated by Colt Hoare the barrow was found to contain a primary cremation
accompanied by two rings and a small perforated jet ornament.
(SU07436863) A levelled bowl barrow with an overall diameter of 12m. It
survives as a buried ditch and spread mound, visible on aerial photographs.
Colt Hoare records that this barrow had been previously opened but he did find
a primary cremation burial below an inverted urn.
(SU07416860) A levelled bowl barrow with an overall diameter of 17m. It
survives as a buried ditch and spread mound, visible on aerial photographs.
Colt Hoare partially excavated this barrow and found a primary cremation,
beneath a decorated urn.
(SU07396859) A levelled barrow with an overall diameter of 18m. It survives as
a buried ditch and spread mound, visible on aerial photographs. When
investigated by Colt Hoare it had already been opened by Cunnington in
1804.
The rough track running through the north-eastern end of the barrow group is
included in the scheduling.

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

A small number of areas in southern England appear to have acted as foci for
ceremonial and ritual activity during the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age
periods. Two of the best known and earliest recognised, with references in the
17th century, are around Avebury and Stonehenge, now jointly designated as a
World Heritage Site. In the Avebury area, the henge monument itself, the West
Kennet Avenue, the Sanctuary, West Kennet long barrow, Windmill Hill
causewayed enclosure and the enigmatic Silbury Hill are well-known. Whilst the
other Neolithic long barrows, the many Bronze Age round barrows and other
associated sites are less well-known, together they define one of the richest
and most varied areas of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial and ritual
monuments in the country. Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age
(2000-700 BC). They comprise closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows -
rubble or earthen mounds covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries
developed over a considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in
some cases acted as a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period.
They exhibit considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently
including several different types of round barrow and occasionally associated
with earlier long barrows. Where investigation beyond the round barrows has
occurred, contemporary or later `flat' burials between the barrow mounds have
often been revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland
England with a marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases they are
clustered around other important contemporary monuments, as is the case both
here and at Stonehenge. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major
historic element in the modern landscape, while their diversity and their
longevity as a monument type provide important information on the variety of
beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. All
examples are considered worthy of protection.

The ten barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery represent the
majority of this nationally important Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.
Although several of the barrows have been reduced by cultivation and others
have been partially excavated, they will contain archaeological and
environmental evidence of their construction and the landscape in which they
were built.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Colt Hoare, R, History of Ancient Wiltshire: Volume II, (1821), 91-2
Colt Hoare, R, History of Ancient Wiltshire: Volume II, (1821)
Colt Hoare, R, History of Ancient Wiltshire: Volume II, (1821), 91-2
Other
(SU06NE657), CAO, Bowl barrow (SU06NE657), (1989)
CAO, Bowl barrow SU06 NE658, 1989, SU06 NE658
CAO, Bowl Barrow, (1989)
SU 06 NE 29 C, RCHM(E), Part Of Fox Covert Group, (1973)
SU 06 NE 47, RCHME, SU06 NE47, (1973)
SU 06 NE 58, RCHME, (1973)
SU06NE659, CAO, Bowl Barrow - Ditched, (1989)
SU06NE663, CAO, Ring Ditch, (1989)
Title: Ordnance Survey 6" Map
Source Date: 1961
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Sheet SU 06 NE 1:10000
Source Date: 1981
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
NGR 0768
Title: Sheet SU 06 NE
Source Date: 1961
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
6" Edition
WI 99 AMW report form, FMW, Fox Covert Group Of Barrows, (1979)

Source: Historic England