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.
Details
The monument includes the remains of a round cairn of Bronze Age date situated
on the summit of Heddon Hill with a panoramic view. The cairn is intervisible
with others on Dod Hill to the west. The round cairn, which has been partly
disturbed by the construction of an Ordnance Survey triangulation point in its
north east sector, is built of loosely packed stone and earth and has a kerb
around its edge. It measures 4m in diameter and stands to a maximum height of
0.2m. The round cairn is one of a group of prehistoric sites on Heddon Hill
which are the subject of separate schedulings.
The triangulation point is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath it is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
34232
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
