Reasons for Designation
Dartmoor is the largest expanse of open moorland in southern Britain and,
because of exceptional conditions of preservation, it is also one of the most
complete examples of an upland relict landscape in the whole country. The
great wealth and diversity of archaeological remains provide direct evidence
for human exploitation of the Moor from the early prehistoric period onwards.
The well-preserved and often visible relationship between settlement sites,
major land boundaries, trackways, ceremonial and funerary monuments as well as
later industrial remains, gives significant insights into successive changes
in the pattern of land use through time. Round cairns are prehistoric funerary
monuments dating to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They were constructed as
earthen or rubble mounds, the latter predominating in areas of upland Britain
where such raw materials were locally available in abundance. Round cairns may
cover single or multiple burials and are sometimes surrounded by an outer
ditch. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major visual element in
the modern landscape. 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. Dartmoor provides one
of the best preserved and most dense concentrations of round cairns in south-
western Britain.
Details
The monument includes two round cairns aligned NNW-SSE and an historic shelter
situated on the summit of Water Hill overlooking much of central Dartmoor. The
southern flat-topped cairn measures 18m in diameter, stands up to 1.5m high
and is surmounted by a 1.3m high modern stone pile. A large slab on the
southern side of this pile may have originally been part of a cist. A slight
rim around the summit of the mound may represent a buried kerb or the result
of later interference. A 3m wide band of rushes adjacent to the north eastern
side of the mound may indicate the presence of a ditch, which originally
surrounded the cairn, and from which material was quarried during the
construction of the mound.
The northern mound lies 6.4m from the other cairn, stands up to 0.7m high
and is 5.5m in diameter.
The historic shelter is built into the north eastern side of the large
southern cairn and survives as a 2m long by 1.6m wide rectangular three sided
structure faced by drystone walling standing up to 0.45m high.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28745
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals 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
