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. Despite some minor disturbance to the top of the monument, the round cairn
300m south west of Underwood survives in fair condition. It will contain
undisturbed archaeological deposits within the mound and upon the old
landsurface beneath.
Details
The monument is a round cairn located on flat ground 300m south west of
Underwood. It includes an irregularly shaped flat topped mound of largely
grass and tree covered stones up to 1.3m high, with maximum dimensions of 29m
east-west by 25m north-south.
A low stone wall and a fence on the cairn's east and west sides respectively
are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features
is included. 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:
27752
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other SMR No. 55, Cumbria SMR, Underwood, (1985)
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.
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