Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

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

Wetton Low bowl barrow

A Scheduled Monument in Wetton, Staffordshire

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: 53.0898 / 53°5'23"N

Longitude: -1.8339 / 1°50'2"W

OS Eastings: 411220.844523

OS Northings: 354742.685281

OS Grid: SK112547

Mapcode National: GBR 36G.C4Y

Mapcode Global: WHCDQ.SLXN

Entry Name: Wetton Low bowl barrow

Scheduled Date: 17 January 1966

Last Amended: 10 September 1992

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1010125

English Heritage Legacy ID: 13543

County: Staffordshire

Civil Parish: Wetton

Traditional County: Staffordshire

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Staffordshire

Church of England Parish: Wetton St Margaret

Church of England Diocese: Lichfield

Details

The monument includes Wetton Low bowl barrow located on a ridge crest at the
eastern end of a local high point. It survives as a somewhat mutilated oval
mound up to 1.6m high with maximum dimensions of 22m by 18m. At the centre of
the barrow is the site of an old limekiln represented by an oval hollow
measuring some 8m by 5m and up to 1m deep. An Ordinance Survey triangulation
pillar has been erected on the barrow to the east of the disturbed central
area. Limited antiquarian investigation of the barrow's centre, in the sides
of the limekiln hollow, located 2 cists - one containing a contracted
inhumation of a young person, the other containing a cremation. A second
inhumation and a rock cut grave containing a third inhumation were also
discovered. Additionally flints and an urn sherd were found in the trench.
Recent chance finds on the barrow's eroded surface around the base of the
triangulation pillar consisted of 12 flints.
The triangulation pillar 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

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. There are over 10,000 surviving bowl
barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring
across most of lowland Britain. 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
and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection.

Despite the monument's somewhat mutilated appearance Wetton Low bowl barrow
survives reasonably well. Limited antiquarian investigation at the barrow's
centre located inhumations, a cremation and grave goods, and these, together
with recent surface finds of artefacts, indicate that further evidence of
inhumations and grave goods will exist within the barrow and upon the old
landsurface.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Barnatt, J, The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989), (1989)
Bateman, T, Vestiges of the Antiquities of Derbyshire, (1849)
Exley, , Miller, , Cooper, , 'Derbyshire Archaeological Journal' in Derbyshire Archaeological Journal, (1987)
Other
Bateman, Illustrations of Antiquity (Unpub volume of drawings), Sheffield City Museum
Darvill, T, MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Bowl Barrows,

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.