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Summary

The westernmost cairn of a group of three set close together. Mound measures 11.9 metres in diameter and stands up to 0.9 metres high. A stone kerb composed of small boulders defines the outer edge of the mound. A hollow in the centre of the mound and a trench cut into the western side are probably the result of the nineteenth-century partial excavation.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1007979: Three round cairns 310m south of White Tor summit

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX 57 NW 10
• National Monuments Record: SX 57 NW 13
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX57NW/61/2
• Pastscape: 439750
• Pastscape: 439759

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CAIRN (Constructed, Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Baring Gould, S., 1899, Sixth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, 152 (Article in Serial). SDV344950.

One of three cairns, now not recognisable. Close to track. Only a flint and small quantity of charcoal found. One of 7 excavated barrows on the south slopes of White Tor.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

One of three 'Cairns' shown on early 20th century map.

Baring Gould, S., 1905, Tenth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, 144 (Article in Serial). SDV64587.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950-1953, SX57NW10 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV228021.

Cairns correct as shown on Ordnance Survey 6 inch map.
A. Turf covered Diameter 10 metres . Height 0.8 metres. (See related records for B and C). Fox states in 1953 these are probably rebuilt cairns.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950-1953, SX57NW13 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV227955.

One of a group of three cairns. References to excavation (Transactions of the Devonshire Association, 37, 1905, pg 144).
Cairns recorded at SX5439 7825, SX5451 7823 and SX5452 7827, but Fox states in 1953 that these references may not be accurate. Probably duplicates of SX57NW10.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 161, Cairn 30 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(8/3/1974) Three cairns south of White Tor. The first at SX54347837 measures 11.0 metres in diameter and 0.6 metres in height

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

Not visible on 1940s Royal Air Force vertical aerial photographs.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., Feb 1992 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Cairn 11.9 metres in diameter, 0.9 metres high. Defined by stone kerb of small boulders. Central hollow 2.5 metres by 1.25 metres by 0.1 metres deep and a trench 2 metres by 1.3 metres by 0.3 metres deep cut into west side probably result from excavation in 1899 which revealed a central pit containing ashes, charcoal and flints.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 95, 240, Map 31, Site 20 (Monograph). SDV219155.

White Tor S.S.E. '1' cairn at SX54347836 of 10.5 metres diameter by 0.5 metres high. One of seven cairns to the south-south-east of White Tor.

Newman, P., 2003, The Langstone Moor Stone Circle, Peter Tavy, Devon and its Prehistoric Environs, 5, Fig 2 (Report - Survey). SDV255420.

The most westerly of the group of three cairns surveyed in 2003. Large flat-topped stony mound 10.8 metres in diameter with a pitted upper surface as a result of unrecorded excavations.

Newman, P., 2004, Merrivale Range Baseline Condition Survey (Report - Survey). SDV346874.

Condition is fair and mostly stable. Newman states that MDV47564 is certainly a duplicate of this record.

Probert, S. A. J., 2010, A Condition Survey of the Archaeological Sites of Merrivale Range, Dartmoor Training Area (Report - Survey). SDV360515.

Condition is fair and mostly stable. Newman states that MDV47564 is certainly a duplicate of this record.

GetMapping, 2010, GetMapping 2010 aerial photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV351585.

Cairn is clearly visible on the 2010 aerial photography.

Ordnance Survey, 2017, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359962.

Cairn is depicted on the modern mapping at this location but is shown with a standardised cairn depiction, larger than the existing feature.

Historic England, 2017, National Heritage List for England, 1007979 (National Heritage List for England). SDV359963.

The westernmost cairn mound measures 11.9m in diameter and stands up to 0.9m high. A stone kerb composed of small boulders defines the outer edge of the mound. A hollow in the centre of the mound and a trench cut into the western side are probably the result of the nineteenth-century partial excavation.

Richards, A. F., 2017, Note about group of cairns on southern slopes of White Tor (Personal Comment). SDV360214.

This feature was recorded at SX5439 7825, based on the 1950s Ordnance Survey card data but should be located 127 metres to the north-north-west at current location. Duplicate deleted.
This explains the following note from the Monument Protection Programme "13/4/1993 Considered under the Monument Protection Programme but could not be found at this location (SX54397826). Not recommended for scheduling".

National Monument Record, 2017, Pastscape (Website). SDV359964.

On the south-facing slopes of White Tor are three possible cairns in a group. The most westerly is a large mound of stones 0.8 metres high and measuring 12.0 metres north-south by 9.5 metres east-west. Two or three large stones on the perimeter may be part of the retaining circle. The cairn has been slightly dug into (citing Ordnance Survey notes, 14/10/1978).

Centred SX 54347836. Three small turf covered cairns lie on a slight south facing slope in an area covered by moorland pasture, scattered boulders and numerous grass tumps and anthills. Constructed of small boulders and stones these were presumably rebuilt after the 19th century excavations (citing article, 1899).
A. SX 54337836. 11.1m by 10.6m, now rather spread, with a maximum height of 0.7m. There is a small central pit and a rather vague trench on the west side; a number of small boulders which demarcate the edge of the feature could, as suggested be a kerb.
Grinsell's number 30 (1978) (citing Fletcher, M. J., Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments in England Field Investigation, 18/11/1987).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7275 - Survey of the Langstone Moor stone circle and other prehistoric monuments nearby
• EDV7441 - Condition survey of the archaeological sites of Merrivale Training Area
• EDV7570 - Condition survey of Merrivale Range training area
• EDV8713 - Merrivale Range: Monument Baseline Condition Survey

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