Cairn east of Scout Hut

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 provides 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.2500-1000 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 densest concentrations of round cairns in south-western Britain.

This cairn is a well preserved example on the brow of a hill. Its relationship to other ceremonial and occupation sites indicates the wealth of evidence relating to the ritual side of the prehistoric life and the exploitation of this part of the Moor.

Details

This cairn lies on a south-west-facing slope east of Scout Hut and north of Eastern Tor and the major agglomerated enclosure with hut circles at Whittenknowles Rocks. It is a grass and bilberry covered mound 5m in diameter and 0.5m in height with a slight hollow in its south side.

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:

10713

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
SX 56 NE-353, (1990)

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