Scheduled Monument: SMERRILL MOOR BOWL BARROW (1008010)

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION 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. Smerrill Moor bowl barrow has been left relatively undisturbed and further significant archaeological remains will survive in the unexcavated areas of the monument and on the old land surface underneath. DETAILS Smerrill Moor bowl barrow is situated overlooking Long Dale in the central uplands of the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument includes a sub-circular mound measuring 12 metres by ten and ½ metres and standing c.½ metre high. A prominent limestone kerb is visible on all sides. A partial excavation was carried out by Thomas Bateman in 1857 when a rock-cut grave was found containing a crouched skeleton on a bed of clay. This was accompanied by a bone tool, several flint implements and a decorated pottery drinking vessel. The vessel dates the barrow to the Beaker period or Early Bronze Age. SELECTED SOURCES Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J. - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey - Date: 1989 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Site 8;22 Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J. - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey - Date: 1989 - Type: PLAN: MEASURED - Description: Site 8;22 Book Reference - Author: Bateman, Thomas - Title: Ten Years Diggings in Celtic and Saxon Grave-Hills (1861) - Date: 1861 - Page References: 102-3 - Type: DESC TEXT Book Reference - Author: Clarke, D.L. - Title: Beaker Pottery of Great Britain and Ireland - Date: 1970 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: No. 139 Book Reference - Author: Marsden B - Title: The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire (1977) - Date: 1977 - Page References: 75-6 - Type: DESC TEXT