A mound is a general term for pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris heaped for protection or concealment. Most often, it is elevated by natural circumstances like hills and mountains. The term may also be applied to natural isolated earthen elevations (hills or in this instance, castillated mounds).

In archaeology, mounds erected for specific purposes, most commonly, at a burial site, have designated names.

Mound types

• Cairn
  • Chambered cairn
• Platform mound
• Tell
• Tumulus (Barrow)
  • Bank barrow
  • Bell barrow
  • Bowl barrow
  • Chambered long barrow
  • Kurgan
  • Long barrow
  • Oval barrow

Monument types | Landmarks

Mound