Towerbrae round cairn

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 small scale stone robbing or quarrying, Towerbrae round cairn survives reasonably well and will contain undisturbed archaeological deposits within the mound and upon the old landsurface beneath. The cairn lies close to other prehistoric monuments on the fells around Bewcastle and thus indicates the importance of this area in prehistoric times and the diversity of monument classes to be found here.

Details

The monument includes Towerbrea round cairn. It is located in a prominent situation on the fellside from where there are extensive views particularly to the north, west and south. It includes a turf covered circular mound of stones measuring 32m in diameter and up to 2.5m high on the downslope western side and 1m high on the upslope eastern side. The surface of the cairn displays numerous undulations which indicate small scale stone robbing or quarrying. On the northern edge of the monument's summit there is a modern flat topped stone memorial cairn. The memorial cairn is excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath it 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:

27758

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Hodgson, K S, Trans Cumb and West Antiq and Arch Soc. New Ser. in Some Notes on Prehistoric Remains in the Border District, Vol. XLIII, (1943), 170

Other
Darvill,T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Bowl Barrows, (1988)
Charlesworth,D.C., AM Records Form - Towerbrae Cairn, (1972)

End of official list entry

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