Scheduled Monument: Bowl barrow 420m north west of Frogmore Farm (SM27385)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Bowl barrow 420m north west of Frogmore Farm PARISH: MILBORNE ST ANDREW DISTRICT: NORTH DORSET COUNTY: DORSET NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 27385 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SY79029938 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes the remains of a bowl barrow which lies on a gentle slope overlooking a shallow combe to the east. The barrow has been almost levelled by ploughing but survives as a low mound, c.17m in diameter and 0.2m high. There is no visible sign of the ditch surrounding the mound but this will survive as a buried feature c.2m wide. This may be the barrow which was opened by H Durden in the north west of the parish in 1864 when he found two skeletons and at least 12 urns, mostly inverted, containing cremations. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE 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. The bowl barrow 420m north west of Frogmore Farm, although possibly partly excavated in the 19th century, will contain archaeological remains, providing information about Bronze Age burial practices, economy and environment. SCHEDULING HISTORY Monument included in the Schedule on 17th May 1962 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Dorset 623 NAME: Round barrow South of Bagber Copse The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 27385 NAME: Bowl barrow 420m north west of Frogmore Farm SCHEDULING AFFIRMED ON 01st August 1996

Record last edited

Apr 20 2011 6:25AM