Ring cairn 90m ESE of the Great Skirtful of Stones

Overview

Heritage Category: Scheduled Monument

List Entry Number: 1010357

Date first listed: 17-Oct-1930

Date of most recent amendment: 25-Jan-1995

Location

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

National Grid Reference: SE 14153 44525

Summary

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Reasons for Designation

Rombalds Moor is an eastern outlier of the main Pennine range lying between the valleys of the Wharfe and the Aire. The bulk of this area of 90 sq km of rough moorland lies over 200m above sea level. The moor is particularly rich in remains of prehistoric activity. The most numerous relics are the rock carvings which can be found on many of the boulders and outcrops scattered across the moor. Burial monuments, stone circles and a range of enclosed settlements are also known. A ring cairn is a prehistoric ritual monument comprising a circular bank of stones up to 20m in diameter surrounding a central hollow area. The bank may be kerbed on both sides with small uprights or laid boulders. They are found mainly in upland areas and may occur singly, in small groups, or in association with other types of contemporary burial monument. They are interpreted as ritual monuments of Early and Middle Bronze Age date, although the nature of the rituals is not fully understood. Excavation has revealed pits, some containing burials and others containing charcoal and pottery taken to indicate feasting activities associated with the burial rituals. As a relatively rare class of monument exhibiting considerable variation in form, all positively identified examples retaining significant archaeological deposits are considered worthy of protection.

This cairn is well-preserved and, although disturbed, it retains significant evidence relating to its original form.

History

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Details

The monument includes a ring cairn situated c.90m ESE of the Great Skirtful of Stones. It consists of a low, circular rubble bank 27m in diameter. The bank width is c.2m and its height is c.0.3m. The bank is partially robbed on the northern and eastern sides. There is a hollow slightly off centre in the enclosed area; this may be the result of an earlier excavation.

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: 25285

Legacy System: RSM

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 Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.