Details

The monument includes the core of a widely scattered round barrow cemetery
set on the floor of a dry valley in an area of undulating chalk downland.
This part of the cemetery comprises ten barrows arranged in two parallel
north-west to south-east rows. Eight of the mounds are bowl barrows, one a
disc barrow and one a saucer barrow. The individual monuments can be
described as follows: a saucer barrow, 50m in diameter (SU32848296) a
ditched bowl barrow, 2m high and 38m in diameter (SU32878293) a ditched bowl
barrow, 2m high and 38m in diameter (SU32908292) a small bowl barrow 1m
high, 14m in diameter (SU32898290); a ditched double bowl barrow, 2.5m high,
40m by 30m in area (SU32948288) a ditched bowl barrow 2m high, 13m in
diameter (SU32998285); a disc barrow 43m in diameter with central mound 14m
in diameter (SU32978282); a ditched bowl barrow 38m in diameter, 1.5m high
(SU32908286); a bowl barrow, 35m in diameter, 3.5m high (SU32838289); a
ditched double bowl barrow, 2.0-2.5m high and 50m by 30m in area
(SU32798290). The remaining barrows in the cemetery are dispersed over a
wide area around the monument. Many were explored by antiquarians in the late
19th century and numerous finds recorded, including cremation burials and
animal bones.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.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, occasionally associated with earlier
long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them,
contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been
revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a
marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other
important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst
their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.

The Lambourn barrow cemetery is particularly important as it survives well
and, despite partial excavation of some of the barrow mounds, has
considerable potential for the recovery of environmental and
additional archaeological remains. It exhibits a considerable diversity of
barrow types and is therefore an outstanding example of its class.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Thomas, N, Guide to Prehistoric England, (1960), 50
Other
Berks SMR (1068.04),
NAR (SU 38 SW 10),
Schofield, A J, Flint Flakes, (1989)

Source: Historic England