Reasons for Designation
The East Moors in Derbyshire includes all the gritstone moors east of the
River Derwent. It covers an area of 105 sq km, of which around 63% is open
moorland and 37% is enclosed. As a result of recent and on-going
archaeological survey, the East Moors area is becoming one of the best
recorded upland areas in England. On the enclosed land the archaeological
remains are fragmentary, but survive sufficiently well to show that early
human activity extended beyond the confines of the open moors.
On the open moors there is significant and well-articulated evidence over
extensive areas for human exploitation of the gritstone uplands from the
Neolithic to the post-medieval periods. Bronze Age activity accounts for the
most intensive use of the moorlands. Evidence for it includes some of the
largest and best preserved field systems and cairnfields in northern England
as well settlement sites, numerous burial monuments, stone circles and other
ceremonial remains which, together, provide a detailed insight into life in
the Bronze Age. Also of importance is the well preserved and often visible
relationship between the remains of earlier and later periods since this
provides an insight into successive changes in land use through time.
A large number of the prehistoric sites on the moors, because of their rarity
in a national context, excellent state of preservation and inter-connections,
will be identified as nationally important.
Details
The monument includes the remains of a prehistoric cairnfield, dated to the
Bronze Age. The cairnfield overlooks the upper Derwent valley to the west and
occupies two spurs of land separated by a small, but relatively steep,
escarpment. It is therefore in two separate areas of protection. However, the
two areas are interpreted as part of a single field system.
The western area of the cairnfield consists of a stone-free area within which
are at least seven small cairns ranging between 2m and 5m in diameter. The
evidence for stone clearance and the survival of a short length of linear
clearance indicates that the site was used for cultivation and may have been
divided into field plots. One of the cairns is unusual, being rectangular and
having a kerb of gritstone slabs. Most of the cairns appear to be undisturbed.
The eastern area of the cairnfield occupies a slightly higher elevation. It
contains at least four small cairns in a stone-cleared area within which are
linear arrangements of boulders, which may be the remains of linear clearance
banks. The cairns are between 2m and 5m in diameter. At the southern edge of
the cleared area is another scatter of boulders where large stones appear to
have been rolled out of the cultivation area.
All modern drystone walls are excluded from the scheduling, although the
ground beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
29834
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
