Cairn on Holgate How

Overview

Heritage Category: Scheduled Monument

List Entry Number: 1014347

Date first listed: 07-Mar-1996

Location

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

National Grid Reference: NZ 06754 04737

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.

Although slightly disturbed this remains a very substantial monument in a prominent location and retaining further archaeological deposits. It is also closely associated with a group of prehistoric carved stones.

History

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Details

This substantial cairn is situated on the summit of Holgate How, a prominent hill with extensive views in all directions. It is sub-circular with a diameter of 15m by 18m and an average height of 1.5m. The centre of the cairn has been disturbed, leaving a depression c.1.5m in diameter. Limestone fragments are noticeable protruding through the thin turf in places. Approximately 300m to the south and south west of the monument lies a group of prehistoric carved stones. These are the subject of separate schedulings.

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: 27928

Legacy System: RSM

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.