Details

The monument includes a group of three bowl barrows forming part of a
prehistoric linear round barrow cemetery which runs from west to east along a
ridge of the Sussex Downs. The largest barrow of the group lies to the south
west and has a circular mound c.9m in diameter and c.0.4m high, surrounded by
a ditch from which material used in its construction was excavated. This has
become infilled over the years but survives as a buried feature c.2m wide.
Lying c.2m to the north, the second barrow has a mound c.8m in diameter and
c.0.4m high. This has a central hollow, indicating part excavation at some
point during the past. The mound will be surrounded by a buried quarry ditch
c.2m wide. The third barrow lies c.14m to the south east and also has a mound
c.8m in diameter and c.0.4m high, associated with an encircling, buried quarry
ditch c.2m high.
The modern fence which crosses the southern part of the monument is excluded
from the scheduling, although the ground beneath it 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

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.
The three bowl barrows 820m south east of Westmeston Farm on Western Brow
survive comparatively well and, despite some disturbance caused by part
excavation, will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to
period in which they were constructed and used.

Source: Historic England

Sources

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

Source: Historic England