A barrow is a mound of earth and stones built over a grave, especially in ancient times. Thousands of years ago, people in Britain and Europe buried important leaders and warriors under these massive earthen hills. Some barrows were simple mounds, while others contained stone chambers inside. Archaeologists still study barrows today, finding ancient pottery, weapons, and clues about how people lived long ago.

The word also refers to a wheelbarrow, that useful one-wheeled cart you push to move dirt, mulch, or heavy loads around a garden or construction site. When you barrow something, you're transporting it in a wheelbarrow. Garden centers and construction sites rely on wheelbarrows because they let one person move loads that would otherwise require several trips or multiple people to carry.

If you visit the English countryside, you might spot ancient barrows rising from farmers' fields, silent monuments to people who died before written history, while modern wheelbarrows still do their practical work nearby.