Scheduled Monument: GRINDLOW BOWL BARROW (1011859)

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 the surface of Grindlow bowl barrow has been disturbed by ploughing, significant areas of the monument remain intact, including the old land surface. DETAILS Grindlow bowl barrow is situated on the eastern shelves south of Wye Dale on the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument includes a large sub-circular cairn measuring 27m by 23½m and surviving to a height of c.1½m. Formerly, the barrow would have been somewhat higher and more uniformly round. However, the site has been ploughed over in the past, as can be seen from the remains of ridge and furrow over and around the mound. In 1849 a partial excavation of the barrow was carried out by Thomas Bateman and a broken flint lancehead was found along with the disturbed remains of at least one inhumation. From this, a Bronze Age date has been assigned to the barrow. 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: Bateman, Thomas - Title: Ten Years Diggings in Celtic and Saxon Grave-Hills (1861) - Date: 1861 - Page References: 48 - Type: DESC TEXT Book Reference - Author: Marsden B - Title: The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire (1977) - Date: 1977 - Page References: 82 - Type: DESC TEXT