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. The cairn 850m south west of Cocker Stake Nook has been disturbed, but will
retain evidence of its form, and buried archaeological remains will survive
below ground. It will therefore contribute to our knowledge of prehistoric
burial practice. It is also unusual to find such burial sites at this height
above sea level in County Durham. The majority of cairns are located at lower
heights. It forms an important part of the prehistoric landscape of Hope Moor
and the nearby Barningham Moor where numerous other sites survive including
other cairns, prehistoric carved rocks, settlements and agricultural field
systems. This site will therefore contribute to studies of prehistoric land
use.
Details
The monument includes a cairn, approximately 9m in diameter and 0.3m high. It
is situated on Hope Moor, 850m south west of Cocker Stake Nook.
The cairn is largely grassed over, but has a pile of exposed stones in its
centre, where a cist was found, 2.3m long, 1.4m wide and up to 0.4m high, with
stone up to three courses high around a void. 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:
30493
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other Northern Archaeological Associates, High Moor Windfarm Environmental Statement, 1996, Site number 9 Arndale Beck
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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