Scheduled Monument: BOWL BARROW ON MASSON HILL (1011201)

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. The bowl barrow on Masson Hill is a very well preserved example which appears to have suffered very little disturbance and so retains intact archaeological remains throughout. DETAILS Masson Hill is located on the south-eastern edge of the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument is a roughly circular bowl barrow comprising a squat mound with a diameter of 19m by 20m and a maximum height of 1.5m. Around the outside of the mound is a 2m wide construction ditch. There has been no recorded excavation of the barrow which, due to its hilltop location and similarity to others of the period, has been dated to the Bronze Age. The barrow commands wide views over all the surrounding countryside and is mutually visible with Minninglow, 1.5km to the west. The stone base of a trig point and the drystone wall crossing the edge of the monument are excluded from the scheduling although the ground underneath is included. SELECTED SOURCES Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989) - Date: 1989 Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989) - Date: 1989 Book Reference - Author: Marsden B - Title: The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire (1977) - Date: 1977 - Page References: 22 - Type: DESC TEXT