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.
Details
The monument includes two round cairns of prehistoric date situated on a level
saddle on a narrow ridge above the Alwinton Burn. The most easterly of the two
cairns measures 5m in diameter amd stands to a maximum height of 0.6m high.
The second cairn, situated 8m to the west is more substantial than the first
and measures 11m in diameter and stands to a maximum height of 1m. There is a
large shallow hollow in the upper surface of the north-west quadrant, the
result of an unrecorded partial excavation.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
25017
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
