Cairns on Knock Hill

Summary

Two round cairns 1.02km WNW and 1.01km north west of Ewe Hill.

Reasons for Designation

Round cairns are prehistoric funerary monuments dating to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They were constructed as stone mounds 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, 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 provide important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

Despite some partial antiquarian investigation, the two round cairns 1.02km WNW and 1.01km north west of Ewe Hill are substantially preserved. The round cairns provide insight into the nature of burial, funerary ritual and cosmology in the Bronze Age. The value of the monument is increased by the richness of archaeological remains in its environs, which include the cairnfield on Reaveley Hill to the north west and the important prehistoric landscape of Ingram Farm to the south east. The monument will contain archaeological deposits relating to its construction and use.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 24 May 2016. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes the remains of two round cairns of Bronze Age date, situated on the ridge-top summit of Knock Hill. The first round cairn is 18m in diameter and stands to a maximum height of 1.5m. It is surrounded by an outer line of stones and has the remains of a ditch on its western side. Located 99m to the south west of the first cairn there is a second cairn 15m in diameter and standing to a maximum height of 1.8m. Further archaeological remains survive in the vicinity of this monument, but are not included as they have not been assessed.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

ND 368

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:- 2036, 1034388

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