Details

The monument, which falls into three areas of protection, includes three bowl barrows, situated on a prominent upland ridge of Hewes Common. The barrows survive as circular mounds, surrounded by buried quarry ditches from which their construction material was derived, in a linear arrangement. The eastern mound stands up to 18m in diameter and 1.4m high and has excavation hollows at the centre and south side. An upright slab set on edge just north of the centre is probably part of a cist. The central mound is 15m in diameter and 0.8m high. It has a central excavation hollow. Two large stones to the south west may be part of a retaining kerb, and there is a mining pit on the south western edge. Both of these barrows were described by WC Borlase in 1872. To the west is a further mound measuring up to 12m in diameter and 1.4m high. There is a central excavation hollow containing a single stone slab, possibly from a cist. This barrow was partially excavated by Borlase in 1862. He found two edge-set stones resting on the natural soil and between them incinerated earth, but no pottery or bone.

The area surrounding the barrows has been subject to mineral exploitation and has numerous pits and associated spoil heaps.

Sources: HER:-
PastScape Monument No:-424194

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Bowl barrows, the most numerous form of round barrow, 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 or rubble mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered single or multiple burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as cemeteries and often acted as a focus for burials in later periods. Often superficially similar, although differing widely in size, they exhibit regional variations in form and a diversity of burial practices. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable variation of 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. Despite partial early excavation and mining activity in the area, the three bowl barrows 380m south east of Bryndowr survive comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to their construction, relative chronologies, territorial significance, social organisation, ritual and funerary practices and overall landscape context.

Source: Historic England