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 a small cairnfield and two standing stones of Bronze Age
date. The complex occupies a shelf of higher ground overlooking an extensive
area of Bronze Age settlement to the north on Gibbet Moor, which is the
subject of a separate scheduling.
The small cairnfield is formed of at least six small cairns. They stand in a
relatively stone free area, the largest being less than four metres in
diameter, and appear to survive intact. At the northern edge of the cairnfield
are two standing stones in close proximity to each other. One stone stands
approximately 0.9m high with the other, about 0.7m away, standing
approximately 0.5m high although it is now leaning.
Surrounding the two standing stones are a number of gritstone blocks which
appear to have once formed an enclosing kerb. About 40m to the west of the
standing stones and still within the cairnfield, is another upright boulder.
Although this could be a natural formation, it is likely to have formed a
prominent feature of the complex.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31265
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
