Details

The monument includes three round barrows arranged in a triangular
formation and the ground between them in which unmarked burials and other
archaeological remains may survive. The monument is located in a prominent
position on the crest of Stoupe Brow on the north eastern edge of Howdale
Moor. This is the easternmost extent of the sandstone, heather covered
moor characteristic of the North York Moors. Today the moor is little used
but archaeological evidence indicates that this has not always been the
case. The prehistoric period in particular saw extensive agricultural use
of the area. It was also used for burials and activities associated with
the carving of patterns on exposed rock. Remains of these activities
survive today.

Each barrow has an earth and stone mound. These stand up to 110m apart.
The northern barrow mound measures 18m in diameter and is 0.75m in height.
The western barrow mound measures 18m in diameter and is 1m in height. The
eastern barrow measures 17m in diameter and is 0.9m in height. All three
barrow mounds were partially excavated by Canon Greenwell in the 1890s.
The excavations uncovered cremation burials and associated grave goods.
These works have left a hole in the centre of each mound.

Each mound is surrounded by a ditch up to 3m wide which has been filled in
and is no longer visible as an earthwork. These barrows are known by the
name Robin Hood's Butts.

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 known as Robin Hood's Butts, 460m south west of
Stoupe Brow Farm have survived well. Significant information about the
original form of the barrows, the burials placed within them and their
relationship with other monuments in the area will be preserved. Evidence
of earlier land use will also survive beneath the barrow mounds.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Smith, M J B, Excavated Bronze Age Burial Mounds of North East Yorkshire, (1997), 1-38

Source: Historic England