Three bowl barrows and one bell barrow on Bursdon Moor situated 670m north east of Lutsford Cross

Reasons for Designation

Bell barrows, the most visually impressive form of round barrow, are funerary monuments dating to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 1500-1100 BC. They occur either in isolation or in round barrow cemeteries and were constructed as single or multiple mounds covering burials, often in pits, and surrounded by an enclosure ditch. The burials are frequently accompanied by weapons, personal ornaments and pottery and appear to be those of aristocratic individuals, usually men. Bell barrows (particularly multiple barrows) are rare nationally, with less than 250 known examples, most of which are in Wessex. Their richness in terms of grave goods provides evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst early prehistoric communities over most of southern and eastern England as well as providing an insight into their beliefs and social organisation. As a particularly rare form of round barrow, all identified bell barrows would normally be considered to be of national importance.

Bowl barrows, the most numerous form of round barrows, are funerary monuments dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most exmaples belonging to the period 2400-1500BC. Over 10,000 examples are recorded nationally. Despite partial excavation of the bell barrow, and at least two of the bowl barrows, this group on Bursdon Moor, 670m north east of Lutsford Cross survives well and will contain archaeological and environmental information relating to the mounds and their surrounding landscape. Other contemporary monuments are visible from this barrow cluster.

Details

This monument includes three bowl barrows and one bell barrow, situated on the high upland ridge known as Bursdon Moor, with commanding views towards the coast and Lundy Island. The four barrows are arranged in a roughly triangular grouping. The easternmost survives as a circular mound 25.9m in diameter and 0.8m high. It has a rather irregular profile and has been cut by an oval central depression measuring 3.2m long, 2m wide and up to 0.2m deep. The surrounding outer ditch, from which material to construct the mound was quarried, is preserved as a buried feature, approximately 3m wide. The westernmost barrow, a bell barrow, survives as a circular central mound, 11m in diameter and 0.8m high. This has been cut by a slightly curved depression measuring 4.6m long, 2.4m wide and 0.2m deep. The central mound is surrounded by a berm which measures up to 1.6m wide, beyond which is a ditch, up to 3.2m wide and 0.2m deep. Surrounding the ditch is an outer bank, most visible on the south east side, which measures 2.4m wide and 0.2m high. The southernmost barrow survives as a circular mound 25.7m in diameter and 0.6m high. This has a central depression 4.9m long, 1.8m wide and up to 0.3m deep. The surrounding quarry ditch is preserved as a buried feature approximately 3m wide. The central barrow survives as a circular mound of uneven profile 13.8m in diameter and 0.5m high. The surrounding quarry ditch is preserved as a largely buried feature, although it is just visible measuring 2.4m wide and 0.1m deep.

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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

34246

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS22SE33, (1987)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS22SE15, (1987)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS22SE16, (1987)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS22SE17, (1987)

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