Summary : A round barrow cemetery of Bronze Age date, situated on a high gravel plateau on Ibsley Common. The monument includes a disc barrow, a saucer barrow, six bowl barrows and the site of a further bowl barrow, now levelled by the later use of the site as an aerodrome. The disc barrow, 19.5 metres in total diameter, is of a relatively unusual form, comprising a disc-shaped platform, raised 0.15 metres, surrounded by a low raised rim, and a shallow outer ditch. The saucer barrow, located 480 metres to the ESE, at the head of Chidben Bottom, is 16 metres in total diameter and includes a small, saucer-shaped mound, also raised about 0.15 metres, surrounded by a ditch, about 0.25 metres deep, and a flat-topped outer bank, about 4 metres wide and 0.3 metres high. The remaining bowl barrows are all relatively small and indistinct, comprising round or slightly oval, flat-topped mounds which range from 4 metres to 11 metres in diameter and from 0.2 metres to 0.6 metres high. Excavations of the saucer barrow and the easternmost bowl barrow, conducted by Heywood Sumner in 1917, demonstrated that the saucer barrow was constructed from local sand and gravel, probably obtained from the surrounding ditch, whereas the bowl barrow was constructed of the same material overlying a core of white clayey sand and an encircling ramp of consolidated gravel flints. At the centre of the bowl barrow Sumner found an irregular pit filled with dark soil and charcoal but produced no finds. At the centre of the saucer barrow Sumner found similar burnt material overlying a small cist cut into the underlying subsoil, which was floored with rammed pebbles and contained an inverted Bronze Age cinerary urn filled with fine soil and charcoal. Excavations of the four other barrows on Ibsley Common by Sumner in 1917 and 1921 yielded similar results and produced two further Bronze Age urns, both of which contained burnt human bone. Scheduled. |
More information : (Group centred SU 17451050) ('A') Tumulus, rim and ditch definite outside fence. ('B') Tumulus much disturbed by digging. ('C') Undisturbed tumulus. ('D') Undisturbed tumulus. ('E') A very low mound. ('F') Tumulus about 20 ft by 1 1/2 to 2 ft high. (SU 17031063 - 'G') Tumulus shown on old 2" near 'B', not found, and apparently only one on SUMMERLOG HILL. (1) (Only three listed by Grinsell) ('D') Saucer barrow 16ft in diameter, 1ft high surrounded by ditch 5ft wide and 6 ins deep. Primary interment of MBA urn with ashes but no burnt bones. ('E') Bowl barrow 11 paces in diameter by 2ft high. ('F') Bowl barrow 10 paces in diameter by 2ft high. (2) Three barrows (listed by Grinsell) were excavated in 1917 by Heywood Sumner. The urn noted by Grinsell was found in 'D', only charcoal was found in 'E' and in 'F' a small gravel filled pit was encountered near ground level which may have been the receptacle for an inhumation. A shallow ditch around the latter barrow was also noted. (3) ('A' - SU 17171064) The only visible remains are the rim, which takes the form of a low enclosure bank, and the slight outer ditch. Grown with a small clump of fir trees. ('B' - SU 17092058) A heather covered bowl barrow 13.0m in diameter by 0.4m in height. ('C' - SU 17621046) A probable bowl barrow comprising a mound 6.0m in diameter and 0.2m in height. ('D' - SU 17611048) Saucer barrow some 13.0m in overall diameter. ('E' - SU 17761051) A heather covered bowl barrow 10.0m in diameter by 0.6m in height. ('F' - SU 17441027) A heather covered bowl barrow 7.5m in diameter by 0.6m in height. 'G' - Nothing found during investigation. (4) Located and surveyed on field document. (5) Located and surveyed on field document. (6) Tumuli shown at 'H' SU 17381053, 'J' SU 17431052, and 'K' SU 17701056 (site of), on the OS 6" 1963, are erroneous plottings of 'C', 'D', & 'E' from Grimes' approximate sitings on the record 6", and should be cancelled. (7) As described by F1 except that 'B' contains a very large excavation trench from east to west which has considerably mutilated it. No trace of barrows at 'H', 'J' or 'K'. Published 1:2500 revised. Mr W J Day of Primrose Cottage, Cuckoo Hill Lane, S Gorley, who is 80 years old and whose family has lived in S Gorley for generations associates the place-name 'Robin Hood's Butt' (applied on 1963 6" to a nearby featureless spur) specifically with Barrow 'A'. With such a typical Barrow name the association is probably correct. (8) No change to descriptions. Position of barrow 'B' amended on 1:2500 plan. (Previously in error by 60.0 m.). (New position SU 17031059). (9)
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