Scheduled Monument: HARTHILL MOOR BOWL BARROW (1009435)

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 Harthill Moor bowl barrow has been disturbed by excavation and earlier agricultural practice, it still survives reasonably well and retains further significant archaeological remains. DETAILS Harthill Moor bowl barrow is located on the eastern gritstone moorlands of Derbyshire. The monument includes an amorphous mound measuring 20 metres by 11 metres and surviving to a height of c.0.75 metres. Originally the barrow would have been circular but it has been spread along its north-south axis by ploughing. A plough ridge associated with this episode grazes the west side of the barrow. The monument was partially excavated in 1877 by Jewitt and Greenwell when a disturbed limestone cist was discovered together with the remains of two cremations. These remains date the barrow to the Bronze Age. In addition, it forms part of the rich prehistoric landscape on Harthill Moor which also includes two enclosures and Nine Stone Close stone circle. SELECTED SOURCES Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, John - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey - Date: 1989 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Site 32;4 Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, John - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey - Date: 1989 - Type: PLAN: MEASURED - Description: Site 32;4 Book Reference - Author: Goss, W.H. - Title: The Life and Death of Llewellyn Jewitt - Date: 1889 - Page References: 289 - Type: DESC TEXT Book Reference - Author: Marsden B - Title: The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire (1977) - Date: 1977 - Page References: 42 - Type: DESC TEXT