Scheduled Monument: HOLLINS HILL BOWL BARROW (1009571)

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. Although the centre of Hollins Hill bowl barrow has been disturbed, the remainder of the barrow is well preserved and contains further archaeologically significant remains. DETAILS Hollins Hill bowl barrow is a roughly circular cairn in a hilltop location on the edge of the western gritstone moorlands of Derbyshire at its interface with the limestone plateau. The monument includes a mound measuring 12.5m by 13.5m by c.1.2m high. This was partially excavated by Thomas Bateman in 1851 and found to contain a primary rock-cut grave which held the remains of a human cremation. This part of the barrow had been previously disturbed and was opened again in 1894 by M Salt who found small lead tablets left by Bateman. Bateman's finds indicate a Bronze Age date for the barrow. SELECTED SOURCES Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J. - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey - Type: DESC TEXT Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J. - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey - Type: PLAN: MEASURED Book Reference - Author: Bateman, T - Title: Ten Years Diggings in Celtic and Saxon Grave-Hills - Type: DESC TEXT Book Reference - Author: Lewis, G D - Title: The Bronze Age in the Southern Pennines - Date: 1970 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Thesis Book Reference - Author: Marsden B - Title: The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire (1977) - Date: 1977 - Type: DESC TEXT