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. The round cairn south of King's Crags survives reasonably well. Evidence of
the manner of construction, and the nature and duration of its use will be
preserved within and beneath the mound. The monument is one of a number of
similar monuments in the immediate vicinity; taken together, these monuments
provide a clear indication of the extent of Bronze Age settlement in the area.
Details
The monument includes a round cairn of Bronze Age date situated on a gentle
south-facing slope, beneath King's Crags. The cairn, which is composed of
loose stone and only partly turfed, is 17m in diameter and has a maximum
height of 1.1m. Despite the fact that the south-eastern quadrant of the cairn
has been robbed of stone in the past, the cairn is well preserved. 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:
20977
Legacy System:
RSM
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