Round cairn 190m east of Cross Gate

Reasons for Designation

Dartmoor is the largest expanse of open moorland in southern Britain and, because of exceptional conditions of preservation, it is also one of the most complete examples of an upland relict landscape in the whole country. The great wealth and diversity of archaeological remains provide direct evidence for human exploitation of the Moor from the early prehistoric period onwards. The well-preserved and often visible relationship between settlement sites, major land boundaries, trackways, ceremonial and funerary monuments as well as later industrial remains, gives significant insights into successive changes in the pattern of land use through time. Round cairns are prehistoric funerary monuments dating to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They were constructed as earthen or rubble mounds, the latter predominating in areas of upland Britain where such raw materials were locally available in abundance. Round cairns may cover single or multiple burials and are sometimes surrounded by an outer ditch. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major visual element in the modern landscape. 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. Dartmoor provides one of the best preserved and most dense concentrations of round cairns in south- western Britain.

Despite evidence of partial excavation, the round cairn 190m east of Cross Gate survives well and contains archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed.

Details

This monument includes a flat-topped round cairn containing a cist situated on a south-facing slope below Leather Tor overlooking Burrator Reservoir. The cairn mound measures 5.5m in diameter, stands up to 0.7m high and its southern edge is defined by a kerb of large stones set on edge. This kerb probably survives as a buried feature on the northern side of the mound. The centre of the mound has been partially excavated to reveal a cist orientated north to south. The interior of this cist measures 1m long by 0.7m wide and 0.4m deep. The southern end stone is missing and the capstone which measures 1m by 0.6m wide has been displaced and now lies a short distance south west of the cist.

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:

22396

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
MPP fieldwork by S. Gerrard,
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SX56NE130,

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