Details

The monument includes a round barrow standing within an area of unimproved
pasture to the south west of Peveril castle. It comprises a low, turf-covered
mound of earth and limestone, situated at the eastern end of a high ridge
directly north of Cave Dale. The location of the monument provides extensive
views to the north and west over the Hope Valley and surrounding hills.

The mound occupies an area of flat, stony ground and measures 9.5m by 9m and
stands 0.5m high. There is no sign of disturbance to the mound associated with
antiquarian excavation or quarrying. The monument is believed to be a bowl
barrow of Bronze Age date, comparable to several similar but disturbed
monuments in the region. It is also possible, however, that the barrow was
constructed during the 7th century for a member of the local Anglian
aristocracy. Other similar barrows in the area have been shown to have been
constructed or reused at this time. Without detailed excavation the exact date
of the monument will remain unclear. Whether of prehistoric or early medieval
date, the monument is a rare example of an intact funerary monument. The
undisturbed archaeological remains within the mound are potentially of great
value in understanding both past funerary practices and social organisation.

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 round barrow 500m south west of Peveril Castle survives extremely well and
is unusual in the Peak District in being unexcavated. It will retain
significant information on both its date and contents. Its location in an area
of known Anglian activity has lead to suggestions that it may have been
constructed during the 7th century AD. Such barrows were built for individuals
of high rank, often containing grave goods which can provide an important
insight into the individual buried. Barrows of this date are extremely rare
with only 50-60 examples having been positively identified. The barrow is of
particular importance if it does date from this period.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Barnatt, JW, Aston Hall - Land at Castleton Derbyshire, Archaeological Survey, (1992), 2/2
Barnatt, JW, Aston Hall - Land at Castleton Derbyshire, Archaeological Survey, (1992)
Barnatt, J, The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989), (1989), 3:12
Barnatt, J, The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989), (1989), 3:12
Barnatt, J W, Collis, J R, Barrows in the Peak District: recent research, (1996), 57-62

Source: Historic England