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 a round cairn situated on the rounded summit of Calf
Ridge, an exposed hilltop visible from all directions. The cairn survives as a
stony mound 16m in diameter and standing up to 0.9m high. Where the turf cover
is eroded and the fabric of the mound is exposed, it shows an earth and stone
construction with individual stones averaging 0.2m in size. Although no longer
visible as a surface feature, a surrounding ditch from which material for the
construction of the cairn would have been quarried, will survive as a buried
feature with an estimated width of 2m.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
19169
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
