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Summary

The central of three barrows of Bronze Age date was visible as a low earthwork mound on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards and digital images derived from lidar data. The barrows are situated on a narrow saddle of land on a west-facing spur roughly equidistant between Starved Oak Cross and Great Oak Cross, Upton Pyne. Excavation in 1870 revealed a cremation burial accompanied by grave goods.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1010631: Two bowl barrows, 350m SE of Stevenstone Farm

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 448139
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX99NW/26
• Old SAM County Ref: 26B
• Old SAM Ref: 15014
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX99NW 4

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BOWL BARROW (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Kirwan, R., 1871, The Prehistoric Archaeology of East Devon, 642-7 (Article in Serial). SDV135842.

Middle one of three barrows excavated in 1870. Mound consisted of sand, clay, some peat and a few stones. A heap of burnt clay and ashes occupied centre of barrow. Charred wood and calcined bones found underneath, resting on which was a bronze pin or awl. A few inches below this was a finely patinated bronze dagger, two small oblong perforations towards lower part of blade. When discovered it retained one of the bronze rivets by which it had been attached to the shaft. Incense cup also found. Hand made of fine clay. Decorated on entire exterior surface and on lip interior, by elaborate pattern of lines closely incised with a fine pointed instrument, forming a series of herring bone and chevron bands and markings. Carbonised wheat found in the debris of the heap, and a small shale bead or disc, 50 other similar beads found. Other details: Plates 1-2.

Evans, J., 1881, Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Irela, 224 (Monograph). SDV322234.

Burnard, R., 1906, Early Man, 363 (Article in Serial). SDV322231.

Fox, C., 1937, Two Bronze Age Cairns in South Wales: Simondston and Pond Cairns, Coity Higher Parish, Bridgend, 162-4 (Article in Serial). SDV65793.

Stones, J. F. S. + Hill, N. G., 1940, A Round Barrow on Stockbridge Down, Hampshire, 45 (Article in Serial). SDV343131.

Authors refer to long necklace of small cylindrical disc beads of lignite or jet, of which the find at Upton Pyne is one of only two known south of the Thames.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1995, RAF/CPE/UK/1995 RS 2155-2156 13-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV354842.

A low mound was visible as a cropmark and earthwork.

Ministry of Works, 1950, Three Barrows at Stevenstone (Schedule Document). SDV343135.

These three barrows have almost disappeared having been levelled with the surrounding field and there are now only the faintest indications of where they existed.

Fox, A. + Stone, J. F. S., 1951, A Necklace From a Barrow in North Molton Parish, North Devon, 29 (Article in Serial). SDV343132.

The find of bead necklace at Upton Pyne is spoken of as belonging to Middle Bronze Age culture.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1962 - 1982, SX99NW4 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV343128.

Site visit 26/07/1962. These barrows are under crop but are clearly visible although rather spread.
Site visit 09/02/1982. Barrow 'B' measures 25.5 metres in diameter and is 0.3 metres high. Other details: Plan, site B.

Powers, R., 1969, Report on the Cremated Bones From a Barrow at Stevenstone Farm, Upton Pyne, 76 (Article in Serial). SDV343129.

The bones are white and fully cremated. The individual may have been a woman or a youth of at least 12 years old.

Fox, A., 1969, The Upton Pyne Cemetery, 77 (Article in Serial). SDV341856.

These barrows have been ploughed down to less than 1 foot high. Other details: Barrow 7.

Fox, A., 1973, South West England 3,500BC - AD600 (Revised Edition), 86 (Monograph). SDV16216.

Typical early grave-goods were found in 1869 in a barrow on Stevenstone Farm: a small grooved dagger, a pottery cup and a necklace, wrapped up with cremated bones in a skin or cloth and fastened with a bronze pin. The eyed pygmy cup was decorated with twisted cord, and the tiny oblate lignite beads and an encrinite were probably chosen for the necklace because they resembled the shape of segmented faience beads.

Gerloff, S., 1975, The Early Bronze Age Daggers of Great Britain, 326 (Monograph). SDV339147.

Pearce, S. M., 1978, Devon in Prehistory, 50 (Monograph). SDV273286.

Other details: Figure 33.

Unknown, 1979, Upton Pyne Barrows 6, 7 and 8. Plan and Profile (Plan - measured). SDV348574.

Devon Committee for Rescue Archaeology, 1979 - 1981, North Devon Barrow Survey (Archive - Survey). SDV341310.

Visited in November 1979. Under grass. Very ploughed down, 30 metres diameter, 0.3 metres high. Survey and profile drawn.

Grinsell, L. V., 1983, The Barrows of South and East Devon, 44 (Article in Serial). SDV337013.

Pearce, S. M., 1983, The Bronze Age Metalwork of South Western Britain, 458 (Monograph). SDV341822.

Barrow found with incense cup with two eye perforation containing human bones possibly a skull, necklace of shale and encrinite beads, cremated bones and grave goods wrapped in skin or cloth, fastened with the pin. The dagger, small, butt damaged, one rivet. Length 72 millimetres, blade width 35 millimetres. The pin, bronze, very decayed and fragmentary, traces of spiral screw, length 80 millimetres, diameter 2 millimetres.

Department of Environment, 1991, Two Bowl Barrows, 350 Metres South-East of Stevenstone Farm (Schedule Document). SDV343136.

The monument includes two bowl barrows centred 45 metres apart on an east-west axis, each surviving as a low earthen mound, 30 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres high, in an arable field. Both barrows were partially excavated in 1870. The excavation of the western barrow revealed a layered mound, of sand, clay and peat, covering a central cremation burial accompanied by a copper-alloy pin and a small grooved-and-rivetted dagger, a small decorated pottery cup, a necklace of shale and fossil beads and a quantity of carbonised wheat. The burial and grave goods were themselves covered by a circular heap of burnt clay and ashes, probably the remains of a central burial structure. These barrows form the central and easternmost of an east-west linear group of three barrows, locally called the `Three Barrows', spaced 10-25 metres apart along the south crest of a low ridge. Their position overlooks the centre of the area covered by the Upton Pyne barrow group, which comprises over thirty recorded barrows.

Environment Agency, 1998-2014, LiDAR DSM data (1m resolution), LIDAR SX9199 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014 (Cartographic). SDV359178.

A low mound was visible as a cropmark and earthwork.

English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West, 99 (Report - non-specific). SDV342694.

Extensive significant problems, ie under plough, collapse. Principal vulnerability arable ploughing.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX9199 22-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356259.

A low mound was visible as a cropmark.

English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West, 91 (Report - non-specific). SDV344777.

English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West, 95 (Report - non-specific). SDV355280.

Extensive significant problems, ie under plough, collapse. Declining. Principal vulnerability arable ploughing.

Jones, A. M. + Quinnell, H., 2013, Daggers in the West; Early Bronze Age Daggers and Knives in the South-west Peninsula, 165 – 191 (Article in Serial). SDV361541.

Project to date Bronze Age daggers from associated cremated bone.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

The westernmost of three barrows of Bronze Age date was visible as a low earthwork mound and cropmark on aerial photographs and digital images derived from lidar data, on a narrow saddle of land on a west-facing spur to the south-east of Stevenstone Farm.
The barrow can be seen as a low earthwork mound on aerial photographs of 1947, but is less apparent as a pale cropmark than the two monuments immediately to the east at this date. Assessment of revisualised data derived from lidar surveys reveals that the earthwork remains of the barrow mound might be more widely spread than previously noted; the lidar data has been interpreted as revealing a low circular mound up to 35 metres in diameter.
A smaller pale cropmark up to circa 25 metres in diameter can be seen on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010, possibly forming over the core of the levelled mound.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV135842	Article in Serial: Kirwan, R.. 1871. The Prehistoric Archaeology of East Devon. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 4. Unknown. 642-7.
SDV16216	Monograph: Fox, A.. 1973. South West England 3,500BC - AD600 (Revised Edition). South West England. Hardback Volume. 86.
SDV273286	Monograph: Pearce, S. M.. 1978. Devon in Prehistory. Devon in Prehistory. Paperback Volume. 50.
SDV322231	Article in Serial: Burnard, R.. 1906. Early Man. Victoria History of the County of Devon. 1. A4 Hardback. 363.
SDV322234	Monograph: Evans, J.. 1881. Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Irela. Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Irela. Unknown. 224.
SDV337013	Article in Serial: Grinsell, L. V.. 1983. The Barrows of South and East Devon. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 41. Paperback Volume. 44.
SDV339147	Monograph: Gerloff, S.. 1975. The Early Bronze Age Daggers of Great Britain. The Early Bronze Age Daggers of Great Britain. 6. Unknown. 326.
SDV341310	Archive - Survey: Devon Committee for Rescue Archaeology. 1979 - 1981. North Devon Barrow Survey. Devon Barrow Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material.
SDV341822	Monograph: Pearce, S. M.. 1983. The Bronze Age Metalwork of South Western Britain. British Archaeological Reports. 120. Photocopy. 458.
SDV341856	Article in Serial: Fox, A.. 1969. The Upton Pyne Cemetery. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 27. Paperback Volume. 77.
SDV342694	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2009. Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West. English Heritage Report. A4 Bound +Digital. 99.
SDV343128	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1962 - 1982. SX99NW4. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV343129	Article in Serial: Powers, R.. 1969. Report on the Cremated Bones From a Barrow at Stevenstone Farm, Upton Pyne. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 27. Paperback Volume. 76.
SDV343131	Article in Serial: Stones, J. F. S. + Hill, N. G.. 1940. A Round Barrow on Stockbridge Down, Hampshire. Antiquaries Journal. 20. Unknown. 45.
SDV343132	Article in Serial: Fox, A. + Stone, J. F. S.. 1951. A Necklace From a Barrow in North Molton Parish, North Devon. Antiquaries Journal. 31. Unknown. 29.
SDV343135	Schedule Document: Ministry of Works. 1950. Three Barrows at Stevenstone. The Schedule of Monuments. Foolscap.
SDV343136	Schedule Document: Department of Environment. 1991. Two Bowl Barrows, 350 Metres South-East of Stevenstone Farm. The Schedule of Monuments. A4 Stapled.
SDV344777	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2010. Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West. English Heritage Report. Digital. 91.
SDV348574	Plan - measured: Unknown. 1979. Upton Pyne Barrows 6, 7 and 8. Plan and Profile. Plan + Digital.
SDV354842	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1995. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1995 RS 2155-2156 13-APR-1947.
SDV355280	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2011. Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West. english Heritage. Digital. 95.
SDV356259	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX9199 22-MAY-2010.
SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV359178	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2014. LiDAR DSM data (1m resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SX9199 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014. [Mapped feature: #61677 ]
SDV361541	Article in Serial: Jones, A. M. + Quinnell, H.. 2013. Daggers in the West; Early Bronze Age Daggers and Knives in the South-west Peninsula. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. 79. Paperback Volume. 165 – 191.
SDV65793	Article in Serial: Fox, C.. 1937. Two Bronze Age Cairns in South Wales: Simondston and Pond Cairns, Coity Higher Parish, Bridgend. Archaeologia. 87. Unknown. 162-4.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds

• FDV1444 - BEAD (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC)
• FDV1443 - CREMATION (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC)
• FDV1441 - EDGED WEAPON (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC)
• FDV1440 - PIN (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC)
• FDV1442 - POT (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC)

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)

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