Details

The monument includes a linear group of three, west-east aligned bowl barrows
forming part of a prehistoric round barrow cemetery which runs from west to
east along a ridge of the Sussex Downs. To the west is a barrow with a
circular mound c.7m in diameter and 0.4m high, with a central hollow
indicating part excavation some time in the past. Surrounding the mound is a
ditch from which material used to construct the barrow was excavated. This has
become infilled over the years but survives as a buried feature c.2m wide.
Situated c.8m to the east is a pair of barrows which lie immediately adjacent
to one another. The larger, westerly barrow has a circular mound c.7m in
diameter and c.0.3m high, whilst the easterly barrow has a slightly smaller
mound c.6m in diameter and c.0.3m high. Each will be associated with a buried
quarry ditch c.2m wide.

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

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.

Bowl barrows are the most numerous form of round barrow and date from the Late
Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age. Most examples were constructed in the
period 2400-1500 BC. They occur across most of lowland Britain and, although
superficially similar in appearance, exhibit regional variations of form and a
diversity of burial practices.
Although they show some signs of disturbance by part excavation, the three
bowl barrows 770m south east of Westmeston Farm survive comparatively well and
will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the period
in which they were constructed and used.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
source 2, RCHME, TQ 31 SW 23, (1934)

Source: Historic England