Details

The monument consists of a disc barrow located on level ground 610m northeast
of Drove Cottage. It includes a barrow mound 18m in diameter and 1.25m high
at its highest point. A level berm 7m wide surrounds the mound and separates
the barrow from a ditch 3.5m wide and 0.75m deep. An outer bank 3.5m wide and
0.5m high at its highest point surrounds the ditch. Former quarrying in the
area has disturbed the ditch and bank on the eastern side and there is further
quarrying on the northern edge of the monument.

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

Disc barrows, the most fragile type of round barrow, are funerary monuments of
the Early Bronze Age, with most examples dating to the period 1400-1200 BC.
They occur either in isolation or in barrow cemeteries (closely-spaced groups
of round barrows). Disc barrows were constructed as a circular or oval area of
level ground defined by a bank and internal ditch and containing one or more
centrally or eccentrically located small, low mounds covering burials, usually
in pits. The burials, normally cremations, are frequently accompanied by
pottery vessels, tools and personal ornaments. It has been suggested that disc
barrows were normally used for the burial of women, although this remains
unproven. However, it is likely that the individuals buried were of high
status. Disc barrows are rare nationally, with about 250 known examples, most
of which are in Wessex. Their richness in terms of grave goods provides
important evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst prehistoric
communities over a wide area of southern England as well as providing an
insight into their beliefs and social organisation. As a particularly rare and
fragile form of round barrow, all identified disc barrows would normally be
considered to be of national importance.

The disc barrow 610m northeast of Drove Cottage survives comparatively well
despite an area of localised disturbance caused by quarrying. It will contain
archaeological and environmental evidence relating both to the monument and
the landscape in which it was constructed.

The importance of the monument is enhanced by its location in an area which
supports a concentration of contemporary burial monuments, thus giving an
indication of the nature and scale of human occupation during the Bronze Age
period.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Barnes, E E, 'Wells AR' in Barrows of the Neighbourhood, , Vol. Vol 23, (1911)
Grinsell, L V, 'Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Nat Hist Society' in Rare Types Of Round Barrow, , Vol. Vol 85, (1939)
Grinsell, L, 'Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural Hist Soc' in Somerset Barrows Part II, , Vol. Vol 115, (1971)
Tratman, EK, 'Proceedings of the Univ of Bristol Speleological Society' in Proceedings of the University of Bristol Speleological Society, , Vol. Vol 3(1), (1927)
Other
Darvill, T., Fancy Barrows, 1989, Monument Class Descrpt. (Pag 6)

Source: Historic England