Details

The monument includes four round barrows situated towards the northern
edge of the Tabular Hills, close to the head of Egg Griff. The barrows are
in a prominent ridge-top position which overlooks Dovedale Griff to the
east and the natural rock formations of the Bride Stones beyond. The
barrows have earth and stone mounds which stand between 0.4m and 0.6m
high. The first barrow mound measures 7m in diameter. The second barrow
mound lies 25m to the east and measures 3m in diameter. The third barrow
mound lies 40m to the south east of the first and measures 5m in diameter.
The fourth barrow mound lies 30m to the south of the first. It is more
irregular than the other three and is 2m wide.

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 four round barrows 320m east of High Pastures have survived in a good
state of preservation. Unlike many barrows in this area, the two northern
barrows do not appear to have been excavated in the past. They will
therefore have undisturbed archaeological deposits in the centre relating
to the primary burials, which are less likely to survive in part-excavated
examples. Despite limited disturbance, the two southern barrows have also
survived well and evidence for their date, original form and for the
burials placed within them will be preserved. Evidence for earlier land
use will survive beneath all the barrow mounds. The close spatial
association between the barrows will provide important insight into the
development of ritual and funerary practice during the Bronze Age. The
barrow lies in an area where there are many other prehistoric monuments,
including further burials as well as the remains of prehistoric land
division. The association with similar monuments is important for the
study of the distribution of ritual and funerary activity across the
landscape during the prehistoric period.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Spratt, D A , 'Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology in North East Yorkshire' in Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology of North East Yorkshire, , Vol. 87, (1993)
Other
Title: Ordnance Survey 2nd Edition 25" sheet 76/6
Source Date: 1912
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Source: Historic England