Scheduled Monument: LADY LOW BARROW (1008920)

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 partially disturbed, Lady Low bowl barrow is a reasonably well preserved example and contains significant intact archaeological deposits. DETAILS Lady Low bowl barrow is a roughly circular cairn situated on the eastern edge of Combs Moss above an outcrop in the western gritstone moors of Derbyshire. The monument includes a mound measuring c.14m by 13m by c.1.5m high, though some of this apparent height is due to its being built on a natural knoll. The barrow is slightly disturbed on the top and on the south side, possibly due to a small-scale excavation though there is no record of such an event. The appearance of the monument, and its proximity to others of a similar period, date it to the Bronze Age. The field wall crossing the north-west side of the monument is excluded from the scheduling but the ground underneath is included. SELECTED SOURCES Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989) - Date: 1989 - Type: DESC TEXT Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989) - Date: 1989 - Type: PLAN: MEASURED Book Reference - Author: Marsden B - Title: The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire (1977) - Date: 1977 - Page References: 27 - Type: DESC TEXT