Site Event/Activity record ECH6971 - MPP Site Visit ~ Mound in Utkinton Parish

Reason for not scheduling: Considerable ambiguity regarding this site. A possible tumulus (one of two) was noted by Shone and seemingly marked on the Ordnance Survey six-inch map as Tumulus (Site of) in 1954. However, in 1961 the site was visited and recorded as a mound up to four metres high and measuring seventy metres by forty-five metres. It was noted as being out of character with known barrows in the area and thus was considered to be one of a series of natural mounds. In 1986 it was included in Longley’s survey of barrows and recorded as measuring twenty-two metres diameter and two metres high, with a note that the land character makes a definite decision difficult. The following year it was described as one of several natural knolls in the area. MPP site visit was attempted on 11/12/1992. Unfortunately, the owner would not allow access. The field worker attempted to view the site from nearby road and lane but could not quite see the summit of the low knoll where the barrow supposedly lies, however, there was no evidence of an earthwork resembling a barrow on the skyline. It was noted that the land had been heavily ploughed for some considerable time (1986 survey notes ploughing) and the conclusion is that if a barrow existed here it will have been largely destroyed by ploughing. The site was therefore not recommended for scheduling.