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 the remains of a round cairn, known as Hare Cairn, of
Bronze Age date situated on gently sloping, west facing moorland. The cairn,
composed of stone and earth measures 18m north east to south west by 21m north
west to south east and stands to a maximum height of 0.8m. The cairn is
bounded on the east, south and south west sides by a slight stony bank which
is thought to represent spoil removed from the cairn in the 19th century.
There is an open cist or stone coffin, 5m east of the cairn centre, formed of
large flat stones; it measures 1.3m by 0.9m and is 0.5m deep. Two further
depressions to the south of the centre of the cairn are the sites of two
additional cists which were uncovered in the 19th century, during stone
robbing of the cairn, and found to contain the remains of ashes and bones.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
25062
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
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.
End of official list entry
