Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Bowls Barrow
Hob Uid: 211227
Location : Wiltshire Heytesbury
Grid Ref : ST9420346771
Summary : A Neolithic long barrow designated as Heytesbury 1 by Grinsell (1957) and surviving as an earthwork. Field investigations by Ordnance Survey field staff in 1969 found the barrow to be approximately 4.6 metres high and 48 metres long. The mound was scrub covered and had a rough concrete base set into the top at the east end. The northern side ditch had been completely effaced by a large pond; the south ditch was traceable as an 8 metre wide 0.3 metre deep depression. The mortuary area is situated at the eastern end. Excavations of the barrow took place in 1801 by W Cunnington, in 1864 by J Thurnam and in 1885-86 by W and H Cunnington. The excavations indicated that there was a primary deposit of at least 16 skeletons, on a flint pavement at ground level, with heads and horns of oxen, overlaid by sarsens. Nearby was a block of bluestone in a hollow. Three intrusive and probably Saxon inhumation burials were found.
More information : (ST 94204678) Bowl's Barrow (TI) LONG BARROW (GT) (1) Bowl's Barrow, Heytesbury, a long barrow, known as Bodelus beorh in the 10th century, is 150 feet long, 94 feet wide and 10 feet high, oriented east to west. There are ditches on both sides. It has been excavated several times - in 1801 and later by W Cunnington, in 1864 by J Thurnam and in 1885-6 by W and H Cunnington. The excavations indicated that there was a primary deposit of at least 16 skeletons, on a flint pavement at ground level, with heads and horns of oxen, overlaid by sarsens. Nearby was a block of bluestone in a hollow. Three intrusive and probably Saxon inhumation burials were found. The fragment of bluestone, sarsens and other finds are in Salisbury Museum and some skulls are in Camb Anat Museum. (2-4) The long barrow is approximately 4.6 metres high and 48 metres long. The scrub covered mound has a rough concrete base set into the top at the east end. The northern side ditch has been completely effaced by a large pond; the south ditch is traceable as an 8.0 metre wide 0.3 metre deep depression. Published survey 1:2500 revised. (5) No change; revised 1:2500 survey of 13 1 69 correct. (6) Originally recorded as Heytesbury 1 by Goddard (7), further description and excavation details by Cunnington. (8) Bowl's Barrow, ST33 (Kinnes). Mortuary area situated at the eastern end, inhumations of 16 adults and children. The mound comprises of chalk rubble with earth (9). Saxon burials recorded by SMR separately, ST94NW400 (SPTA 239).(10) No change; revised 1/500 survey as part of RCHME SPTA Project (see project archive for further details). (11)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1960
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : LV Grinsell
Page(s) : 141
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Source Number : 11
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Source details : D. Field/19-JAN-1995/RCHME: SPTA Project
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : (R. Colt Hoare)
Page(s) : 87
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : W Cunnington
Page(s) : 104
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Vol(s) : 24, 1888-9

Source Number : 5
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Source details : F1 JP 13-JAN-1969
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : F2 MJF 27-JUN-1975
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : E.H Goddard
Page(s) : 263
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Vol(s) : 38, 1913-4

Source Number : 8
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Source details : M.E Cunnington
Page(s) : 392
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Vol(s) : 38, 1913-4

Source Number : 9
Source :
Source details : British Museum Occasional Paper 52: Non Megalithic Long Barrows and Allied Structures in the British Neolithic. 1992, 10, 25 (I. Kinnes)
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : Wilts CC SMR ST94NW400
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Neolithic
Display Date : Neolithic
Monument End Date : -2200
Monument Start Date : -4000
Monument Type : Long Barrow, Inhumation
Evidence : Earthwork, Sub Surface Deposit, Stratified Find

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Early Saxon
Monument End Date : 649
Monument Start Date : 410
Monument Type : Inhumation
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Period : Neolithic
Component Monument Type : Long Barrow, Inhumation
Object Type : ANIMAL REMAINS
Object Material :

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : WI 49
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Wiltshire)
External Cross Reference Number : ST94NW100
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Wiltshire)
External Cross Reference Number : 100/400
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : ST 94 NW 20
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD SURVEY
Start Date :
End Date :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1801-01-01
End Date : 1801-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1803-01-01
End Date : 1803-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1864-01-01
End Date : 1864-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1885-01-01
End Date : 1886-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1969-01-13
End Date : 1969-01-13

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1975-06-27
End Date : 1975-06-27

Historic England Research Records

Bowls Barrow