Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Bowl barrow of Late Neolithic or Bronze Age date. Possibly disturbed in the late 19th century by antiquarian activity, in the early 21st century it has become infested by rabbits. A quantity of struck flint was recorded in the upcast from the burrows. The barrow was surrounded by a ditch, now infilled.

Monument Types

• BOWL BARROW (BOWL BARROW, Late Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 3000 BC (at some time) to 701 BC (at some time))

Associated Finds

• LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Late Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 3000 BC? to 701 BC?)

Full description

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[TR 27394477] TUMULUS [O.E.] (1)

On the hill close to and behind Little Watersend, west of Temple Ewell, a barrow was opened "lately" but nothing was found in it. (2)

A large bowl barrow, in good condition, situated upon a NE slope at the end of a downland spur and measuring 25.0m. NW-SE by 22.0m transversely and 3.7m in height. There are no traces of a ditch. The mound is flat-topped and tree covered and now shows no signs of excavation. Published 1/2500 Survey correct. (3)

Field report [4].

This watching brief examined flint cast from the mound by rabbits, whose extensive burrowing had damaged the mound. The work took place ahead of ferreting undertaken as monument management works. A quantity of struck flint was recorded from the upcast of a number of the burrows and left in situ at the barrow. The chalk rubble structure of the mound was also visible through the entrances to some of the burrows. Large undiagnostic flint nodules were used to block the rabbit holes. The report dates the bowl barrow to the late Neolithic or Bronze Age, built of chalk and using struck flint as a feature of its construction. It also refers to the possibility that the barrow was disturbed in the late 18th century and that its ditch has become infilled but survives as a buried feature c.3m wide. [5].

From the National Heritage List for England

Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow situated on sloping ground on a spur projecting from a ridge of the Kent Downs. The barrow has a flat-topped, west-east orientated, oval mound measuring 29m by 24.5m. The mound is large, rising to a height of 3.7m on the downslope side. Minor signs of disturbance to the centre of the mound probably result from partial excavation in the late 18th century. The mound is surrounded by a ditch from which material used to construct the barrow was excavated. This has become infilled over the years, but survives as a buried feature c.3m wide.

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.

Despite partial disturbance caused by antiquarian excavation, the action of tree roots and rabbit burrowing, the bowl barrow 200m south west of Little Watersend survives well and contains archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed. This is the largest recorded round barrow in Kent.

From the National Heritage List for England

Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow situated on sloping ground on a spur projecting from a ridge of the Kent Downs. The barrow has a flat-topped, west-east orientated, oval mound measuring 29m by 24.5m. The mound is large, rising to a height of 3.7m on the downslope side. Minor signs of disturbance to the centre of the mound probably result from partial excavation in the late 18th century. The mound is surrounded by a ditch from which material used to construct the barrow was excavated. This has become infilled over the years, but survives as a buried feature c.3m wide.

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.

Despite partial disturbance caused by antiquarian excavation, the action of tree roots and rabbit burrowing, the bowl barrow 200m south west of Little Watersend survives well and contains archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed. This is the largest recorded round barrow in Kent. (6)

<1> OS 25" 1957 (OS Card Reference). SKE48272.

<2> "Hist of Kent" 4, 1799, 37 (E. Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE32632.

<3> F1 ASP 01-MAY-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE41876.

<4> Field report for monument TR 24 SE 3 - May, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5684.

<5> Defence Estates, 2004, An Archaeological Watching Brief at Little Watersend Barrow, Temple Ewell, Kent Cinque Ports Training Area, Army Training Estate (South East) (Unpublished document). SKE12524.

<6> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

Sources and further reading