Cairnfield and three round barrows 800m south west of Fangdale Beck

Reasons for Designation

Cairnfields are concentrations of cairns sited in close proximity to one another. They often consist largely of clearance cairns, built with stone cleared from the surrounding landsurface to improve its use for agriculture, and on occasion their distribution pattern can be seen to define field plots. However, funerary cairns are also frequently incorporated, although without excavation it may be impossible to determine which cairns contain burials. Clearance cairns were constructed from the Neolithic period (from c.3400 BC), although the majority of examples appear to be the result of field clearance which began during the earlier Bronze Age and continued into the later Bronze Age (2000-700 BC). The considerable longevity and variation in the size, content and associations of cairnfields provide important information on the development of land use and agricultural practices. Cairnfields also retain information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisation during the prehistoric period.

Round barrows are funerary monuments of the Late Bronze Age constructed as earthen or rubble mounds, which covered single or multiple burials. Despite limited disturbance these barrows have survived well. Significant information about the original form, burials placed within them and evidence of earlier land use beneath the mounds will be preserved. Although in an isolated position, this monument is associated with other cairnfields and groups of barrows on the Hambleton Hills. Similar groups of monuments are also known across the northern and central areas of the North York Moors. The close association of the cairnfield and round barrows provides important insight into burial practice, agricultural development and social and territorial organisation during the prehistoric period.

Details

The monument includes a cairnfield and three round barrows clustered in a prominent position on the eastern side of Wetherhouse Moor overlooking Bilsdale. The barrows are grouped together at the north of the monument. The northern barrow has a well defined flat topped earth and stone mound standing 0.5m high. It is round in shape and is 9m in diameter. This mound has been dug into in the past leaving a slight hollow. The southern barrow lies 20m to the south and has a large well defined flat topped mound standing 0.7m high. It is round in shape and is 10m in diameter. The third barrow lies 30m to the east. It has an earth and stone mound 1m high. It is round in shape and 8m in diameter. Each of these mounds was encircled by a ditch up to 3m wide which has been filled-in over the years and is no longer visible as an earthwork. The cairnfield comprises approximately 15 clearance cairns ranging from 3m to 7m in diameter. They lie in groups at the western and eastern ends of the monument with three isolated cairns lying in the central area. The cairns are stone built and either round or elongated in shape standing c.0.5m high. There are many similar examples of groups of barrows and field systems on this area of the Hambleton Hills. They provide evidence of territorial organisation marking divisions of land, divisions which still remain as some parish or township boundaries.

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:

25521

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Spratt, D A, Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology in North East Yorkshire in Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology of North East Yorkshire, Vol. BAR 104, (1993), 109-115
Spratt, D A, Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology in North East Yorkshire in Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology of North East Yorkshire, Vol. BAR 104, (1993), 109-120
Spratt, D A, Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology in North East Yorkshire in Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology of North East Yorkshire, Vol. BAR 104, (1993), 109-120

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