Details

The monument includes three round barrows situated in the Vale of Mowbray.
The barrows lie in a line orientated north east to south west and are 14m and
22m apart respectively. Although reduced by agricultural activity the barrows
survive as low circular mounds up to 0.4m high and 30m in diameter. The barrow
mounds were each originally surrounded by a ditch up to 3m wide, however the
ditches have been buried by soil spread from the mounds and are no longer
visible as earthworks. The barrows were partly excavated in the 19th century
when cremation burials were found in all the mounds.

The barrows lie close to the major prehistoric ritual monument at Thornborough
which includes three henges, a cursus and further barrows.

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 limited disturbance these barrows have survived well. Significant
information about the original form of the barrows and the burials placed
within them will be preserved. Evidence of earlier land use will also survive
beneath the barrow mounds.
The barrows lie in close proximity to the major prehistoric ritual monument at
Thornborough dating to the Neolithic period which includes three henges, a
cursus and a pit alignment. The relationship between the ritual monument and
the barrows offers important information for understanding the development and
nature of ritual and funerary practices through the prehistoric period.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Record Cards,
Title: Ordnance Survey Record Card
Source Date:
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Source: Historic England