MDE1060 - Bronze Age barrow on Challacombe Common (Monument)

Summary

A single Bronze Age round barrow about 16 metres in diameter and 0.7 metres high shows evidence of excavation.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

(SS 6821 4278) Tumulus (NR) [1] (SS 6823 4278) A round barrow, 15 paces in diameter and 2 feet high. [2] The barrow is lying in moorland. It is 15.0 metres in diameter and on average 1.0 metre high. Published survey 25" revised. [3] A turf covered tussocky barrow, measuring 16.6 metres north to south by 15.6 metres west to east. The mound lies within rank pasture and is covered in coarse grass with patches of bracken and rushes spreading over it. The mound is 0.7 metres high, and has a summit diameter of 8.4 to 9.7 metres. On the eastern lip of the summit is a spread lump of material which is almost certainly the product of an excavation. It represents a spoil heap placed on the eastern side of a north to south trench. Other evidence for excavation is a sharp sided ditch, 0.3 metres deep, around the northern side of the mound. On the western side, the outer lip of the ditch has a lobe of spoil 4.3 metres long and 0.2 metres high upon it. The ditch was probably dug by excavators either to define the mound or to establish whether it was bounded by a kerb. [4] The barrow described above is clearly visible on a number of aerial photographs. It is situated in a prominent position on a west facing spur close to the summit of Challacombe Common. No evidence of disturbance or excavation is visible on aerial photographs, and the barrow appears relatively well preserved. [5-6] An intact round barrow. Scheduled with four others and an enclosure, on Challacombe Common. [7] The Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment of 2009 gave the site a survival score of 9. [11] The site was surveyed in March 2015 as part of the 2015 Exmoor Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment. It was given a survival score of 9. [12] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [13]

Sources/Archives (13)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1963. 6 Inch Map: 1963.
  • <2> Article in serial: Grinsell, L.V.. 1970. The Barrows of North Devon. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 28. P. 114.
  • <3> Unpublished document: BUCKLEY, MHB. Field Investigators Comments. Ordnance Survey visit, 16 August 1972.
  • <4> Unpublished document: Wilson-North, R.. Various. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 23 June 1993.
  • <5> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF 543/2821 (F66) 185-86 (27 April 1964).
  • <6>XY Archive: 2007-2009. Exmoor National Park NMP: SS 64 SE. MD002181. [Mapped feature: #38471 ]
  • <7> Report: Department of Environment. 1972. List of Ancient Monuments.
  • <8> Unpublished document: McDonnell, R.. 1980. Gazetteer of Sites in the Exmoor National Park Identified through Aerial Photography. Ss6842d.
  • <9> Aerial photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946 -1948. Vertical Aerial Photography. RAF/CPE/UK/1980.3090 (April 1947).
  • <10> Aerial photograph: Meridian Air Maps. 1977-1978. Infrared False Colour Aerial Photography. MAM/13/122 (May 1977).
  • <11> Report: Bray, L.S.. 2010. Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment 2009, Exmoor National Park.
  • <12> Report: Gent, T. and Manning, P.. 2015. Exmoor National Park Scheduled Monument Condition Survey 2015. Archaedia.
  • <13> Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 34721, Extant 9 November 2021.

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Devon SMR Monument ID: 2663
  • Devon SMR: SS64SE/48
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MDE20167
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO30
  • Local List Status (No)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 64 SE18
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 34721

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 6821 4277 (23m by 23m)
Map sheet SS64SE
Civil Parish CHALLACOMBE, NORTH DEVON, DEVON

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (4)

Record last edited

Nov 9 2021 3:30PM

Feedback?

Your feedback is welcome. If you can provide any new information about this record, please contact us.