Scheduled Monument: CROMWELL'S LOW BOWL BARROW (1010968)

REASON 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 some disturbance caused by excavation, Cromwell's Low bowl barrow is still a well preserved example containing further significant archaeological remains. DETAILS Cromwell's Low bowl barrow is a sub-circular cairn in a ridge-top location in the south-western ridges of the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument includes a mound measuring 19m by 16m and standing c.1.3m high. This was partially excavated by Thomas Bateman in 1848 and found to contain, at the centre, a rock-cut grave covered by two limestone slabs in which was deposited a cremation burial accompanied by a fragment of antler and a food vessel indicating a Bronze Age date for the barrow. Outside the grave, on the old land surface beneath the barrow, were found the disturbed remains of two skeletons in association with iron nails or rivets, buckles and the fittings of a shield. These indicate the re-use of the barrow in the Anglian period. Excluded from the scheduling are the drystone walls crossing the edge of the monument, although the ground beneath them is included. 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, Thomas - Title: Ten Years Diggings in Celtic and Saxon Grave-Hills (1861) - Date: 1861 - Page References: 27 - Type: DESC TEXT Book Reference - Author: Marsden B - Title: The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire (1977) - Date: 1977 - Page References: 97 - Type: DESC TEXT Article Reference - Author: Fowler, M - Title: The Transition from the Late Neolithic...in the Peak District - Date: 1955 - Journal Title: Derbyshire Archaeological Journal - Type: DESC TEXT Article Reference - Author: Manby T G - Title: Food Vessels of the Peak District (1957) - Date: 1957 - Journal Title: Derbyshire Archaeological Journal - Volume: 77 - Page References: 24 - Type: DESC TEXT