Cairn 500m west of Newbridge Farm

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.

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 were placed within the mound in stone-lined compartments called cists. Often occupying prominent locations, cairns 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 prehistoric communities.

The cairn 500m west of Newbridge Farm survives well, despite partial disturbance, and will contain evidence relating to the landscape in which it was constructed. In addition it is important because of its association with contemporary settlement remains to the west and in its location next to a rising source of water.

Details

The monument includes a prehistoric cairn standing to the east of a complex of contemporary settlement remains.

The cairn comprises a mound of surface-worn gritstones standing in open moorland next to the head of a small stream. It measures 11.5m by 8.5m and 0.4m high and stands on a levelled platform raising it above otherwise boggy ground. Although there is a slight disturbance close to its centre, the cairn appears otherwise intact and will contain undisturbed archaeological remains. The size and location of the cairn indicates that it is funerary in function and Early Bronze Age in date. It is almost certainly associated with the Bronze Age settlement remains to the west, in sight of the cairn. The location of the monument is significant being next to a rising water source.

The cairn represents a ceremonial site being part of a complex series of contemporary features on the same area of moorlands.

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:

31283

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Barnatt, J, The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989), (1989), 29:35
Barnatt, J, The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989), (1989), 29:35

End of official list entry

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