Reasons for Designation
A small number of areas in southern England appear to have acted as foci for
ceremonial and ritual activity during the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age
periods. Two of the best known and earliest recognised, with references in the
17th century, are around Avebury and Stonehenge, now jointly designated as a
World Heritage Site. In the Avebury area, the henge monument itself, the West
Kennet Avenue, the Sanctuary, West Kennet long barrow, Windmill Hill
causewayed enclosure and the enigmatic Silbury Hill are well-known. Whilst the
other Neolithic long barrows, the many Bronze Age round barrows and other
associated sites are less well-known, together they define one of the richest
and most varied areas of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial and ritual
monuments in the country. Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age
(2000-700 BC). They comprise closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows -
rubble or earthen mounds covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries
developed over a considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in
some cases acted as a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period.
They exhibit considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently
including several different types of round barrow and occasionally associated
with earlier long barrows. Where investigation beyond the round barrows has
occurred, contemporary or later `flat' burials between the barrow mounds have
often been revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland
England with a marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases they are
clustered around other important contemporary monuments, as is the case both
here and at Stonehenge. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major
historic element in the modern landscape, while their diversity and their
longevity as a monument type provide important information on the variety of
beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. All
examples are considered worthy of protection.
Despite this barrow having been reduced by cultivation, it does not appear to
have been excavated and will contain archaeological and environmental remains
relating to its construction and the landscape in which the cemetery was
built.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow
cemetery containing six barrows in all, situated on Allington Down.
The barrow mound is visible as a spread of stony material 13m in diameter and
up to 0.2m high. It is surrounded by a c.2.5m wide quarry ditch from which
material was obtained during its construction. This has become infilled over
the years but will survive buried below the modern ploughsoil.
At about the turn of the century, two sherds of Middle Bronze Age pottery and
part of a human femur were found on the surface of the mound.
The barrow is located adjacent to a public right of way which lies on the line
of an ancient track. The boundary which once crossed the barrow has now been
moved to the east.
The location of the barrow is at SU09046585 and not that plotted by the
Ordnance Symbol at SU09166598.
Excluded from the scheduling is the boundary fence which runs across the
eastern edge of the constraint line. However, the ground beneath remains
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.