Details

The monument includes the buried remains of a bowl barrow 900m north of
Copston Farm. The barrow mound has been reduced by cultivation over the years,
although the ditch, from which material was quarried during the construction
of the barrow, survives as a buried feature. This is visible on aerial
photographs as a circular cropmark (areas of differential plant growth over
buried archaeological features) and encloses an area approximately 40m in
diameter. In addition, internal features, possibly including the burial pits
of primary and secondary burials, are visible on some photographs.

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.

The bowl barrow 900m north of Copston Farm survives reasonably well despite
ploughing and is believed to preserve the primary burial as well as associated
buried artefacts and environmental deposits. These will provide information
about the local population, including evidence about dietary habits, diseases
and standards of living. Artefactual evidence will indicate social status and
illuminate ritual and funerary practises. In addition, the buried ditch will
preserve environmental evidence including information about the landscape,
environment and climate in the vicinity at the time of the barrow's
construction.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Various SMR Officers, Various unpublished notes in SMR, WA3597 SMr number file

Source: Historic England