Reasons for Designation
A ring cairn is a prehistoric ritual monument comprising a circular bank of
stones up to 20m in diameter surrounding a hollow central area. The bank may
be kerbed on the inside, and sometimes on the outside as well, with small
uprights or laid boulders. Ring cairns are found mainly in upland areas of
England and are mostly discovered and authenticated by fieldwork and ground
level survey, although a few are large enough to be visible on aerial
photographs. They often occur in pairs or small groups of up to four examples.
Occasionally they lie within round barrow cemeteries. Ring cairns are
interpreted as ritual monuments of Early and Middle Bronze Age date. The exact
nature of the rituals concerned is not fully understood, but excavation has
revealed pits, some containing burials and others containing charcoal and
pottery, taken to indicate feasting activities associated with the burial
rituals. Many areas of upland have not yet been surveyed in detail and the
number of ring cairns in England is not accurately known. However, available
evidence indicates a population of between 250 and 500 examples. As a
relatively rare class of monument exhibiting considerable variation in form,
all positively identified examples retaining significant archaeological
deposits are considered worthy of preservation.
Details
This well preserved ring cairn is situated on a west facing slope in open
moorland on Rectory Allotment. It includes an outer bank, ditch and central
stony enclosure. The 2m wide ditch is most discernible on the eastern and
south eastern sides and is in places very wet. The interior of the monument is
slightly uneven and disturbed with small patches of erosion and loose stones
on the surface. The monument has a diameter of 28m.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
24499
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
