Reasons for Designation
Cairnfields are concentrations of cairns sited in close proximity to one another. They often consist largely of clearance cairns, built with stone cleared from the surrounding landsurface to improve its use for agriculture, and on occasion their distribution pattern can be seen to define field plots. However, funerary cairns are also frequently incorporated, although without excavation it may be impossible to determine which cairns contain burials. Clearance cairns were constructed from the Neolithic period (from c.3400 BC), although the majority of examples appear to be the result of field clearance which began during the earlier Bronze Age and continued into the later Bronze Age (2000-700 BC). The considerable longevity and variation in the size, content and associations of cairnfields provide important information on the development of land use and agricultural practices. Cairnfields also retain information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisation during the prehistoric period.
The cairnfield 210m south west of Throng Moss Reservoir survives well and will contain archaeological deposits relating to the construction and use of the monument and environmental deposits relating to the use of the surrounding landscape. The monument provides insight into the character of land use and land clearance during the Bronze Age period.
Details
The monument includes the remains of at least nine Bronze Age cairns situated on level ground on open moorland which rises to the north west. The cairns are all sub-circular in plan and vary in diameter from 3m to 7m with an average height of 0.3m. The larger cairns are located towards the eastern end of the group.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
CU 121
Legacy System:
RSM - OCN
End of official list entry
