Round barrow

Although concentrated in Europe, they are found in many parts of the world, probably because of their simple construction and universal purpose.

[2] At its simplest, a round barrow is a hemispherical mound of earth and/or stone raised over a burial placed in the middle.

Construction methods range from a single creation process of heaped material to a complex depositional sequence involving alternating layers of stone, soil and turf with timbers or wattle used to help hold the structure together.

In some cases these occur hundreds or even thousands of years after the original barrow was built and were placed by entirely different cultures.

In Britain round barrows generally date to the Early Bronze Age although Neolithic examples are also known.

Schematic plans and sections of various types of round barrow
Round barrows on the chalk ridge of Bronkam Hill in Dorset, England. There are numerous round barrows along the south Dorset Ridgeway, including some well-preserved examples of the different sub-types.