Scheduled Monument: GORSEY LOW BOWL BARROW (1009168)

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 by excavation and ploughing, Gorsey Low bowl barrow is still a very well preserved and largely intact example. Unusually for the Peak District this barrow is known to be surrounded by a ditch. DETAILS Gorsey Low bowl barrow is an exceptionally large and well preserved earthen barrow in an unusual low-lying location on the south-western ridges of the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument includes a sub-circular mound, which measures 46m by 40m by c.2m high, and the surrounding construction ditch which is c.5m wide and buried under accumulated soil and debris. During a partial excavation carried out by Thomas Bateman in 1845, a number of flint artefacts and a potsherd were found which 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: Marsden B - Title: The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire (1977) - Date: 1977 - Type: DESC TEXT