Details

The monument consists of two adjacent bowl barrows, and of the ground lying
between them. These barrows lie on the north of Darracott Moor, 370m south of
Haycroft Farm, Huntshaw. The barrow to the west is 23m in diameter and 1.6m
high, and the eastern barrow is 24m in diameter and 1.3m high. Both barrows
are probably broader and lower than originally constructed as they have been
affected by ploughing which also may have obscured any ditch around each
barrow. The mounds were built mainly from clay and when partially excavated
last century were found to contain charcoal, cremated remains and grave goods,
and in particular the barrow to the east contained a bronze ogival dagger.

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.

These two barrows have considerable potential for the preservation of
environmental evidence both of a contemporary kind as well as of the
pre-barrow surface. The ploughed area which lies between the barrows is
very likely to be able to provide further significant information about
their stratigraphic relationship.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Doe, G, 'Trans Devonshire Assoc' in The examination of two barrows near Torrington, , Vol. 7, (1875), 102-105
Fowler, H, 'Trans Devonshire Assoc' in On opening an Ancient British Barrow at Huntshaw, , Vol. 2, (1867), 187-189
Grinsell, L V, 'Proc Devon Arch Soc' in The Barrows of North Devon, , Vol. 28, (1970), 119
Other
Title: (Also sketch OSA SS52SW1 DCC SMR)
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Source: Historic England