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 limited antiquarian investigation of the centre of the monument, the
round cairn 490m south east of White Raise round cairn survives well. This
investigation located human remains and pottery, and further evidence of
interments and grave goods will exist within the mound and upon the old
landsurface beneath. The monument lies within an area of open fell rich in
prehistoric monuments, and is situated upon an alignment of funerary monuments
stretching for over 1.5km along the natural communication route over a col
between Lowther and Ullswater valleys. It thus indicates the importance of
this area in prehistoric times and will contribute to the study of the
ceremonial function of cairns and other spatially associated monuments in the
area.
Details
The monument is a round cairn located on top of a very low hillock on Askham
Fell 490m south east of White Raise round cairn. It includes a slightly
flattened oval mound of stones up to 1.4m high with maximum dimensions of 17m
by 15m. Near the western end of the cairn's summit is a line of three
orthostats up to 0.5m high aligned north-south. A series of three stone banks
extend from the body of the cairn. The longest measures 10m long by 2.5m wide
by 0.25m high, is orientated north east - south west, and points directly
towards Askham Fell stone alignment. On the cairn's north eastern side are two
further shorter banks up to 4.5m long.
Limited antiquarian investigation opposite the largest orthostat by Canon
Simpson located a cremation beneath fragments of an inverted urn, the rim of
which was 0.33m in diameter. 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:
22528
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Quartermaine, J, Askham Fell Survey Catalogue, (1992), 23-4 Quartermaine, J, Askham Fell Survey Catalogue, (1992), 23 Quartermaine, J, Askham Fell Survey Catalogue, (1992), 21Other SMR No. 2945, Cumbria SMR, Moor Divock, (1985) To Quartermaine,J (Site surveyor), Clare, T (County Archaeologist),
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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