Scheduled Monument: ONE OF TWO BOWL BARROWS ON BOLE HILL (1008941)

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 the north-eastern bowl barrow on Bole Hill has been disturbed, the rest of the barrow is well preserved and contains further undisturbed archaeological remains. DETAILS This barrow is the north-eastern of two bowl barrows on Bole Hill which is situated on the limestone plateau of Derbyshire north of Wye Dale. The monument includes a roughly circular mound measuring 19.5m by 18m and standing c.0.75m high. Originally the barrow would have been somewhat higher but its profile has been lowered in the past by ploughing. At this time also a dry-walled structure, recorded by Thomas Bateman in the mid-nineteenth century as covering a central rock-cut grave, was removed. Beneath the capstone of the grave was found a cremation and the remains of an urn which date the barrow to the Bronze Age. Excluded from the scheduling is the field wall crossing the western edge of the monument but the ground underneath is included. 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