Details

The monument includes a Bronze Age bowl barrow situated on the north side of
the A418 Aylesbury Road, overlooking low ground and the course of the River
Thame to the north west. In the mid 19th century the barrow mound was noted as
being 74 yards in circumference at the base, with a slope four yards wide
leading from the summit which measured ten yards across. Despite later
ploughing, and the truncation of the southern edge by a field boundary ditch,
the barrow remains visible as a low mound, 23m in diameter and up to 0.8m
high. There is no surface indication of the surrounding ditch from which the
material for the mound would have been quarried. This, however, is thought to
survive as a buried feature which, from the present diameter and recorded size
of the mound, can be estimated to have a width of c.2m.

The 19th century report mentions a cross-shaped depression on the summit of
the mound which is thought to indicate its reuse as a windmill stand in the
medieval or post-medieval period.

The fence and fence posts crossing the southern edge of the barrow are
excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included.

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 being reduced by subsequent activity, the bowl barrow known as Round
Hill will retain significant archaeological information. Funerary remains will
survive in buried features within and beneath the mound illustrating both the
function of the monument and the beliefs of the community which built it.
Further remains, funerary and otherwise may also be found in the silts of the
surrounding ditch, as well as environmental evidence relating to the
appearance of the landscape in which it was set. The barrow's location near
the River Thame reflects the use of the valley as a communciation route and,
through comparison with similar monuments in similar locations, contributes to
the understanding of the prehistoric settlement and land use in the valleys of
the Rivers Thame and Ouse.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Lipscomb, G, History and Antiquities of Buckinghamshire, (1847), 202
Lipscomb, G, History and Antiquities of Buckinghamshire, (1847), 202
Other
conversation with Parish Councillor, Witney, M, Round Hill, Haddenham, (1995)
Entries plotted from the Bucks SMR, Archaeological referance map (1:10,000 O.S.),
Haddenham - Cuddington Circular Walk, 1975, Parish Council guide
infomation from County Archaeologist, Farley, M, Round Hill, Haddenham, (1995)
Ordnance Survey Record Card, PAS, SP 71 SW 6, (1972)
Records of finds, 0856,

Source: Historic England