Scheduled Monument: BURTON MOOR BOWL BARROW (1017545)

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 part of Burton Moor bowl barrow has been disturbed by stone robbers and partial excavation, significant areas survive intact and contain undisturbed archaeological remains. DETAILS Burton Moor bowl barrow is located on the limestone plateau of Derbyshire, north of Grindlow on the eastern shelves south of the River Wye. The monument includes a roughly circular cairn measuring 15m by 14m and standing c.1.5m high. The north and west sides of the barrow have been somewhat disturbed in the past by stone robbers, probably at the time of the Enclosures. In 1849 the barrow was partially excavated by Thomas Bateman who found a primary rock- cut grave containing three crouched skeletons, two of which were female. These were accompanied by a number of flint implements and a jet necklace and had been covered over with stones on which were found animal bones and the remains of a human cremation. These remains indicate a Bronze Age date for the barrow while, higher up in the mound, were found the remains of a secondary Anglian interment. This was accompanied by a bronze bowl and a silver-plated ring which Bateman calls a frame for an enamel. Excluded from the scheduling are the drystone walls crossing the monument but the ground underneath 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, 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 Book Reference - Author: Meaney, A. - Title: A Gazeteer of Early Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites - Date: 1964 - Type: DESC TEXT Article Reference - Author: Fowler, M J - Title: The Anglian Settlement of the Derbys-Staffs. Peak District - Date: 1954 - Journal Title: Derbyshire Archaeological Journal - Volume: 74 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Pagination 134-151