Wor Barrow and two bowl barrows on Handley Down, Ancient burial mounds in Handley Down, Dorset, England
Wor Barrow and two adjacent bowl barrows on Handley Down are prehistoric burial structures made of compacted earth that rise from the open hillside. The Wor Barrow forms an elongated mound, while the two smaller structures beside it are rounded in shape.
These barrows were built over 4000 years ago during the Neolithic period as communities established permanent burial grounds. This era marked a shift toward settled living and organized funeral practices in Britain.
The mounds served as places where communities gathered to remember their dead and establish their presence in the landscape. People would have visited these structures regularly as part of their relationship with the land and their ancestors.
The site sits on open hillside and is reached via public footpaths from Sixpenny Handley village. The ground can be muddy after rain and sheep often graze the area, so wear suitable clothing and watch your step.
Excavations here uncovered different burial methods placed side by side, revealing that people of varying social status were interred within the same structures. This discovery shows that even in prehistoric times, social rank influenced how communities honored their dead.
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