Scheduled Monument: BANK TOP BOWL BARROW (1008938)

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. Bank Top bowl barrow is a well preserved example containing largely intact archaeological remains. DETAILS Bank Top bowl barrow is situated c.50m north of Bank Top oval barrow in the southern fringes of the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument includes a roughly circular mound with a diameter of c.12m and standing c.1m high. There has been no recorded excavation of the barrow but its overall appearance indicates that it is a Bronze Age burial mound of the type known as a bowl barrow. Its location next to an earlier burial mound has close parallels at other sites in the Peak District. The field wall crossing the western edge of the monument is excluded from the scheduling but the ground underneath is included. SELECTED SOURCES Other Reference - Author: Wildgoose, Martin - Title: Bank Top Farm Barrow - Date: 1986 - Type: SMR - Description: PRN 2026