Simonside Cairn 670m west-north-west of Old Stell Crag
Overview
Heritage Category: Scheduled Monument
List Entry Number: 1011605
Date first listed: 14-Sep-1993
Map
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Location
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
District: Northumberland (Unitary Authority)
Parish: Whitton and Tosson
National Park: NORTHUMBERLAND
National Grid Reference: NZ 02410 98711
Summary
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
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.
This cairn survives reasonably well and is a good example of its type. Much
of the archaeological deposits are undisturbed and contain valuable evidence
relating to the construction of the cairn and the nature and duration of its
use. Additionally, it is one of a group of large prehistoric burial cairns
located prominently on the summits of hills in Coquetdale and it will
contribute to our understanding of prehistoric settlement and activity in the
area.
History
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Details
The monument includes a large cairn of Bronze Age date situated on the western
summit of Simonside Hill overlooking the Coquet valley. It has been
constructed on the edge of a rocky spur with extensive views in all directions
and is a prominent landmark. It survives to a height in excess of 1m and has
a diameter of 18m. The mound is constructed of large boulders; many of those
on the surface have been re-arranged by walkers to form a modern marker cairn.
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: 20893
Legacy System: RSM
Sources
Other
No. 2319,
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.
End of official listing