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.
Details
This monument includes a platform cairn situated on the summit ridge of
Cawsand or Cosdon Hill. The cairn forms part of a cemetery including at least
two round cairns, two ring cairns and one platform cairn. The cairn mound
measures 16.5m in diameter and stands up to 1m high. A hollow in the centre of
the mound representing an early excavation has been largely backfilled with
loose rubble to form a pile of stones measuring 3m in diameter and 1m high.
The outer edge of the mound is faced with close set orthostats, many of which
are leaning outwards away from the cairn, forming a kerb standing up to 0.7m
high. A second kerb survives largely as a buried feature 1m inside the outer
ring and is visible as four edge set stones in the western side of the mound.
Two ring cairns and two round cairns also lie on the summit of Cawsand Hill.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
24147
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
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 Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
