Two kerbed cairns on Trendrine Hill

List Entry Summary

This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Location

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The monument may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

Legacy System Information

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Asset Groupings

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List entry Description

Summary of Monument

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Reasons for Designation

Kerbed cairns are prehistoric funerary monuments dating to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They were constructed as stone mounds defined by an outer kerb of upright stones or walling covering single or multiple burials. These burials may be placed within the mound in stone-lined compartments called cists. In some cases the cairn was surrounded by a ditch. Often occupying prominent locations, kerbed cairns are a major visual element in the modern landscape. They are a relatively common feature of the uplands and are the stone equivalent of the earthen round barrows of the lowlands. Their considerable variation in form and longevity as a monument type provides important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period. Despite re-use as the base for a triangulation pillar, the two kerbed cairns on Trendrine Hill survive well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to their construction, relative chronologies, territorial significance, social organisation, ritual and funerary practices and overall landscape context.

History

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Details

The monument includes two kerbed cairns, situated at the summit of the prominent coastal Trendrine Hill, with far reaching views across Mussel and Carn Naun Points. The cairns survive as closely-spaced circular stony mounds. The northern mound is up to 20m in diameter and 2.5m high with traces of a retaining kerb. An Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar has been placed at its summit. This is excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath the pillar is included.

The southern cairn is approximately 12m in diameter but has a well-defined kerb of large stones up to 1.3m high. Several other large stones within this kerb, some upright and some recumbent, could be an inner kerb or chamber, and within this is a further possible cist. This second cairn is close to the parish boundary wall.

Sources: HER:- PastScape Monument No:-423156

Selected Sources

National Grid Reference: SW4787538761, SW4788338745

Map

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This copy shows the entry on 24-Apr-2018 at 12:24:17.