Scheduled Monument: CRONKSTON LOW BOWL BARROW (1017540)

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. Despite partial disturbance caused by excavation, Cronkston Low bowl barrow is still a well preserved example containing further significant archaeological remains. Unusually for the Peak District this barrow clearly exhibits a surrounding ditch. DETAILS Cronkston Low bowl barrow is a sub-circular cairn situated on the crest of Cronkston Low in the western upland ridges of the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument includes a mound measuring 16.5m by 14.5m standing at a height of c.2m. A kerb of large limestone blocks is visible around the perimeter of the mound which is also encircled by a 3m wide rock-cut ditch. During partial excavations carried out by the Batemans in 1825 and 1849, two crouched skeletons were found in a cist and rock-cut grave respectively, and also a cremation. These burials, in addition to a flint tool found with one of the skeletons, 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 - Title: Vestiges of the Antiquities of Derbyshire - Type: DESC TEXT Book Reference - Author: Bateman, T - Title: Ten Years Diggings in Celtic and Saxon Grave-Hills - Type: DESC TEXT Book Reference - Author: Marsden B - Title: The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire (1977) - Date: 1977 - Type: DESC TEXT