Details

The monument, which falls into four areas, includes a round barrow cemetery
comprising four bell and two bowl barrows, situated on a flat-topped ridge on
Barrow Hill 150m south west of Brookvale Farm. A Roman road lies 150m to the
west and is the subject of a separate scheduling. The four southern barrows
are aligned south west-north east while the two northern barrows are situated
close together 135m to the north west.
The four bell barrows vary in diameter between 9.6m and 17m, and between 0.5m
and 2.2m high. The bowl barrows are each 6m across and 0.5m high. All the
barrows are surrounded by quarry ditches; these are visible around five of the
barrows varying between 1.5m and 3.5m across.
Three of the barrows were partially excavated in 1847 by J H Austen. Two were
found to contain cremations, possible in primary positions, with at least one
interment. A third barrow was found to have, in its centre, a primary
cremation with ashes contained in a Late Bronze Age pottery urn. At least five
later inhumations were also found.
All fence posts and the electricity pole and support stays are excluded from
the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features 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.

The round barrow cemetery on Barrow Hill 150m south west of Brookvale Farm is
one of several on the heathland in this area and contains two different types
of barrow. Most of the barrows are well preserved and will contain
archaeological remains providing information about Bronze Age beliefs, economy
and environment.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Grinsell, L V, 'Procs Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Soc.' in Dorset Barrows, (1959), 125
Other
Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, (1970)
Report No 39872.1, McKinley, J I, Barrow Hill, Corfe Mullen, Dorset. SEB 11kv Mains Replacement, (1996)

Source: Historic England