Scheduled Monument: OSMASTON FIELDS BOWL BARROW, SOUTH (1010094)

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. Osmaston Fields south bowl barrow is very well-preserved and unusual in the Peak District in that it has not been excavated and so will retain significant intact archaeological remains. DETAILS The monument is a bowl barrow located in the southern part of Osmaston Fields which is situated on the southern ridges of the Derbyshire Peak District. It includes a large sub-circular mound and also the surrounding construction ditch which is buried beneath accumulated soil. The mound measures 50m by 45m by c.4m high and is one of a number of barrows to be found in this region, some of which have been partially excavated and found to contain Bronze Age remains. Although there has been no recorded excavation carried out at this particular example, a Bronze Age date has been assigned to it. SELECTED SOURCES Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989) - Date: 1989 Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989) - Date: 1989 Book Reference - Author: Marsden, BM - Title: The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire - Date: 1986 - Page References: 81 - Type: DESC TEXT