Details

The monument includes three prehistoric round barrows, situated on a ridge
between Devichoys and Carclew. The three barrows form a roughly linear group
running NNE-SSW. The scheduling is divided into three separate areas of
protection.
The northernmost barrow in the group has a sub-circular earth and stone mound,
truncated slightly on the south east side, approximately 13.2m across and 2.8m
high. An east-west orientated hollow in the top of the mound, east of centre,
8m long, 2m-3m wide and 0.5m deep, is considered to be the result of an
antiquarian excavation. A depression 3m wide and around 0.2m deep on the south
side is considered to be the remains of a quarry ditch around the mound. The
north west side of the mound has a modern ornamental revetment built to 0.7m
above the ground level, of four rough courses of quartz stones, with large
quartz grounders. This curves between modern boundary banks which meet the
mound to the south west and north east. The revetment is included in the
scheduling.
The central barrow in the group has an earth and stone mound 25m in diameter
and 1m high, with a smooth, rounded profile. Quartz stones are visible in the
surface of the mound in several places.
The southernmost barrow in the group has an earth and stone mound 20m in
diameter and up to 2m high. A linear depression 3m wide and 0.3m deep running
WSW-ENE across the mound near its centre is considered to be the result of an
antiquarian excavation, and a raised area south of the depression is likely to
have been formed from spoil from this excavation. A hollow 3m wide and 0.3m
deep around the west side of the mound is considered to be the remains of an
outer ditch.
The barrows are associated with another to the west, beyond this scheduling,
and together they form a small ridge-top barrow cemetery. This additional
barrow is the subject of a separate scheduling.
The modern surface of the approach road to the east of the northernmost barrow
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 barrows 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 mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered
single or multiple burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as
cemeteries and often acted as a focus of 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 examples recorded nationally (many more have already
been destroyed), occurring across most of Britain, including the Wessex area
where it is often possible to classify them more closely, for example as bowl
or bell barrows. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major
historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable variation in
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.

The three round barrows 430m north east of Devichoys Barton survive well.
Despite evidence for limited truncation, excavation, and reduction by
ploughing, the barrows remain substantially intact, as will most of their
underlying old land surfaces and any surviving original deposits associated
with the mounds and old land surfaces. Their location in a small ridge-top
barrow cemetery illustrates the important role of topography in Bronze Age
funerary activity.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Polwhele, R, 'Lake's Parochial History of Cornwall' in Lake's Parochial History of Cornwall, , Vol. 3, (1867), 388
Other
Mercer, R, AM7, (1970)
Stoneham, S to Parkes, C, (1999)
Title: Mylor Tithe Apportionment
Source Date: 1839
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date: 1878
Author:
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Surveyor:

Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date: 1880
Author:
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Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date: 1907
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Source: Historic England