Details

The scheduling includes four prehistoric round barrows, situated on near
level ground and a slight north east slope, on top of a ridge north of St
Columb Major. They are associated with other barrows beyond this
scheduling, forming an outlying group within a wider hill and ridgetop
barrow cemetery. The scheduling is divided into four separate areas of
protection.
The barrows in the group are fairly closely and evenly spaced. The gaps
between them vary from around 150m to 250m. Taking first the barrow on the
south west in the scheduling, this has a slightly oval plan, its
dimensions being 25.9m north-south by 22.6m east-west. It has an earth and
stone mound of platform type with a flattish top around 0.7m high,
modified by limited antiquarian excavation, and ploughing. An old account
of the barrow records a kerb of retaining stones around the base of the
mound. There is no secure evidence for an external ditch.
The next barrow to the east, the most northerly in the scheduling, is oval
in plan, measuring around 16m east-west by 13m north-south. Its mound,
reduced by cultivation, is visible on the ground as a slight rise. It is
made of earth and rubble stones 0.1m-0.2m across, many of which are white
quartz. There is no evidence for a ditch surrounding the mound.
Further east again is the barrow in the centre of the group. This has a
sub-circular mound in the region of 19.5m across and 0.5m high, with a
gently curving profile, modified by ploughing. The mound contains earth
with quartz stones about 0.1m across. No surrounding ditch is known. The
easternmost barrow has an oval mound extending approximately 19m
north-south and 17m east-west; it is reduced by ploughing but is up to
0.6m high on the north east side where it projects from a slight natural
slope. Again, there is no evidence for an external ditch.
All modern fencing 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.

Despite modification by ploughing, the four round barrows 270m north west
of Higher Trevibban Farm survive fairly well. The underlying old land
surfaces, and remains of any structures or other deposits associated with
these and with the upstanding earthworks, will also survive. The ridgetop
location illustrates the important role of topography in prehistoric
funerary activity.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Saunders, AD, AM7, (1958)
SW 96 NW 21, Quinnell, NV, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1977)
SW 96 NW 22, Fletcher, MJ, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1972)
SW 96 NW 22, Quinnell, NV, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1977)
SW 96 NW 23, Quinnell, NV, Ordnance Survey Index Card, (1977)
Title: Cornwall Mapping Project
Source Date: 1995
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Title: Little Petherick Tithe Apportionment
Source Date: 1842
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
407
Title: Ordnance Survey 1" Map
Source Date: 1810
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
Date approx
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date: 1880
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
Date approx.
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map
Source Date: 1908
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
Date approx.
Title: Ordnance Survey Index Card
Source Date: 1972
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
SW 96 NW 23
Young, A to Parkes, C, (2003)

Source: Historic England