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.
Details
The monument includes three cairns near the north east edge of the upland
plateau of Ravock, 830m north east of Ravock Castle. The cairns are 100m south
of the southern edge of a cairnfield, the subject of a separate scheduling.
The westernmost cairn of the three is 5m in diameter and 0.5m high.
The central cairn is the largest of the group, with a diameter of 8m and
height of 0.5m. The easternmost cairn is 5.5m in diameter and 1m high.
All three cairns are composed of sandstone rubble and boulders. Although all
the cairns show evidence of stone having been removed in the past for walling,
the easternmost is much less affected by this than the other two.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31816
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
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.
End of official list entry
