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 round cairn on Ravens Pike is well preserved and retains significant
archaeological deposits. It is a good example of a large summit cairn and will
add to our understanding of Bronze Age funerary and ritual practices in the
region.
Details
The monument includes the remains of a round cairn of Bronze Age date,
situated on the summit of Ravens Pike, where it commands extensive views in
all directions. The round cairn, of stone and earth, is roughly circular in
shape with a diameter of 13m and stands to a maximum height of 1.5m. The flat
top of the cairn is surmounted by a modern walkers' cairn created from
displaced cairn material. 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:
32734
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Charlton, B, Fifty centuries of Peace and War, (1996), 28Other Gates T M, 16544/21-2, (1996) NT70NE 15,
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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