Ring cairn 305m NNW of Joppa Farm

Reasons for Designation

A ring cairn is a prehistoric ritual monument comprising a circular bank of stones up to 20m in diameter surrounding a hollow central area. The bank may be kerbed on the inside, and sometimes on the outside as well, with small uprights or laid boulders. Ring cairns are found mainly in upland areas of England and are mostly discovered and authenticated by fieldwork and ground level survey, although a few are large enough to be visible on aerial photographs. They often occur in pairs or small groups of up to four examples. Occasionally they lie within round barrow cemeteries. Ring cairns are interpreted as ritual monuments of Early and Middle Bronze Age date. The exact nature of the rituals concerned is not fully understood, but excavation has revealed pits, some containing burials and others containing charcoal and pottery, taken to indicate feasting activities associated with the burial rituals. Many areas of upland have not yet been surveyed in detail and the number of ring cairns in England is not accurately known. However, available evidence indicates a population of between 250 and 500 examples. They are relatively rare as a monument type. Despite partial early excavation, the ring cairn 305m NNW of Joppa Farm survives comparatively well and will contain further archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, longevity, territorial significance, social organisation, funerary and ritual practices and overall landscape context.

Details

The monument includes a ring cairn, situated on a ridge overlooking the valley of an unnamed river leading to Porth Nanven. The cairn survives as a circular bank, defining a hollow centre, with an overall diameter of 19m and standing between 0.5m to 1.5m high. The inner face of the bank is approximately 12m in diameter and defined by a partial stone built kerb of at least nine stones. A field boundary overlies part of the periphery of the bank, and there is a break on the north side. The ring cairn was partially excavated by Borlase in the 19th century. He found the circular bank with an inner ring of stones surrounded a cist; pottery sherds were recovered from the ring bank. The ring cairn was also recorded by Henderson in the 1920's.

Sources: HER:- PastScape Monument No:-420589

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

CO 745

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

End of official list entry

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