Acocks Green History Society
Scheduled ancient monument
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 survey of 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
The full English Heritage listing is here.
Built environment of Acocks Green
Introduction to the built environment of Acocks Green