Scheduled Monument: Bowl Barrow 160M South Of Blue Boar Farm (1007392)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Bowl barrow 160m south of Blue Boar Farm PARISH: RAINOW DISTRICT: MACCLESFIELD COUNTY: CHESHIRE NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 22569 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ97087638 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument is a bowl barrow located on a low ridge top 160m south of Blue Boar Farm. It includes an oval mound of earth and stones up to 2m high with maximum dimensions of 31.5m by 29m. Antiquarian records describe the site as 'more or less disturbed' in 1878 suggesting previous investigation. There was an unrecorded investigation in 1972 and a shallow hollow 3m in diameter and 0.3m deep south-west of the summit may be associated with this. 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. Despite limited 19th and 20th century investigations, the bowl barrow 160m south of Blue Boar Farm survives reasonably well. It will contain undisturbed archaeological deposits within the mound and upon the old landsurface beneath. SCHEDULING HISTORY Monument included in the Schedule on 4th October 1957 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Cheshire 53 NAME: Round barrow south of Blue Boar Farm The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 22569 NAME: Bowl barrow 160m south of Blue Boar Farm SCHEDULING REVISED ON 21st October 1993