Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Two round barrows on Heydon Hill

A Scheduled Monument in Huish Champflower, Somerset

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.0431 / 51°2'34"N

Longitude: -3.3761 / 3°22'33"W

OS Eastings: 303624.1076

OS Northings: 127978.2534

OS Grid: ST036279

Mapcode National: GBR LN.GJJF

Mapcode Global: FRA 36TC.8K6

Entry Name: Two round barrows on Heydon Hill

Scheduled Date: 4 April 1978

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1006143

English Heritage Legacy ID: SO 482

County: Somerset

Civil Parish: Huish Champflower

Traditional County: Somerset

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Somerset

Church of England Parish: Huish Champflower

Church of England Diocese: Bath and Wells

Summary

Two bowl barrows 155m north east of Wood Farm.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 27 August 2015. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

This monument, which falls into two areas, includes two bowl barrows situated on the upper south facing slopes of a northern spur leading from the prominent Heydon Hill. The barrows survive as circular mounds surrounded by buried quarry ditches from which the construction material was derived. The northern mound is up to 25m in diameter and 1.6m high with a Y-shaped central excavation hollow. The southern mound is 20m in diameter and 1.9m high with a central excavation hollow. Both barrows were partially excavated by F Hancock in 1896. The northern barrow contained one primary and two secondary cremations, one of which had an urn. The southern barrow had both an inner and outer retaining kerb of stones, some pottery, but no human remains were recovered. Further archaeological remains in the vicinity are the subject of a separate scheduling.

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 the two bowl barrows 155m north east of Wood Farm will contain further 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

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:-188228

Source: Historic England

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.