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 surface disturbance to the westerly of the cairns, the two round
cairns 415m and 420m NNE of The Cockpit survive reasonably well.
The monument lies within an area of open fell rich in prehistoric monuments
and will contain undisturbed archaeological deposits within the mounds and
upon the old landsurface beneath. Additionally it lies at the western end of
an alignment of funerary monuments stretching for over 1.5km along the natural
communication route over a col between the Lowther and Ullswater valleys. It
thus indicates the importance of this area in prehistoric times and the
diversity of monument types to be found here. The monument will contribute to
the study of the ceremonial function of cairns and other spatially associated
monuments in the area.
Details
The monument includes two round cairns located on Moor Divock 415m and 420m
NNE of The Cockpit stone circle. It includes a larger, oval mound of partly
turf-covered stones up to 0.3m high with maximum dimensions of 10.6m by 9.5m.
There are some irregularly-shaped surface hollows on the western side of this
cairn. Immediately to the east is a smaller, slightly oval mound of partly
turf-covered stones up to 0.25m high with maximum dimensions of 4.6m by 4.4m.
The eastern edge of this smaller cairn is kerbed. Also included is the
archaeologically sensitive area between the cairns. MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22522
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Quartermaine, J, Askham Fell Survey Catalogue, (1992), 17-18Other Darvill,T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Bowl Barrows, (1988) Darvill,T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Bowl Barrows, (1988)
Legal
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.
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