| Burnt mound, Fox Hollies Park DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT BATCH NUMBER: 11321
FILE REFERENCE: AA 92773/1
SCHEDULE ENTRY COPY
ENTRY IN THE SCHEDULE OF MONUMENTS COMPILED AND MAINTAINED BY
THE SECRETARY OF
STATE UNDER SECTION 1 OF THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL
AREAS ACT
1979 AS AMENDED.
MONUMENT: Burnt mound in Fox Hollies Park, 140m south east of
Round Pool
PARISH: BIRMINGHAM
DISTRICT: BIRMINGHAM
COUNTY: WEST MIDLANDS
NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 35110
NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S) : SP12478217
DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT
The monument includes the known extent of the buried and earthwork
remains of a burnt mound in Fox Hollies Park lying to the north
of westley Brook. The burnt mound includes a low oval mound approximately
0.3m high and measuring 14m by 9m, orientated approximately east
to west. The matrix of the mound is visible as an area of small
heat-crazed cobbles in gritty black soil. A geophysical surveyof
the area revealed dense concentrations of stone as well as at
least seven probable pits, three hearths and four troughs. In
addition the line of the old stream course remains visible around
the mound.
ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE
A burnt mound is an accumulation of burnt (fire-crazed) stones,
ash and charcoal, usually sited next to a river or lake. On excavation,
some form of trough or basin capable of holding water is normally
found in close association with the mound. The size of the mound
can vary considerably; small examples may be under 0.5m high and
less than 10m in diameter, larger examples may exceed 3m in height
and be 35m in diameter. The shape of the mound ranges from circular
to crescentic. The associated trough or basin may be found within
the body of the mound or, more usually, immediately adjacent to
it. At sites which are crescentic in shape the trough is normally
found within the 'arms' of the crescent and the mound has the
appearance of having developed around it.
The main phase of use of burnt mounds spans the Early, Middle
and Late Bronze Age, a period of around 1000 years. The function
of the mounds has been a matter of some debate, but it appears
that cooking, using heated stones to boil water in a trough or
tank, is the most likely use. Some excavated sites have revealed
several phases of construction, indicating that individual sites
were used more than once. Burnt mounds are found widely scattered
throughout the British Isles, with around 100 examples identified
in England. As a rare monument type which provides an insight
into life in the Bronze Age, all well-preserved examples will
normally be identified as nationally important.
The burnt mound in Fox Hollies Park, 140m south east of Round
Pool is a well-preserved example of a mound located adjacent to
a water source. It is expected to preserve evidence for its construction
and use, as well as evidence of associated settlement remains
and buried land surfaces which will provide important evidence
of its relationship to Bronze Age society. In addition the waterlogged
conditions will preserve environment and organic evidence such
as weeds, pollen and seeds which will further understanding of
the prehistoric environment surrounding the site.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
Extract from 1:10,000 O.S. map copyright O.S.
MONUMENT INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE ON 24th July 2002
AUTHORISED BY: A R Middleton
On behalf of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
under
batch no: 11321
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