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Summary

Large stone cairn; one of a pair approximately 530m north of Corndon Tor. The eastern cairn comprises a stony mound standing to over 2m high with a flattish top surface which has been badly disturbed by recent building of shelters. One very pronounced example is in centre of the cairn and appears recent. A reave, part of the Dartmeet system, touches the cairn tangentially on the west side but is not covered by it.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Dartmeet Parallel Reave System. Earthworks of an extensive area of prehistoric remains including complex field system, numerous hut circles, enclosures and cairns, overlain by medieval remains including Vaghill Warren, farmsteads and a large field syste
• Scheduled Monument 1003290: Cairns N of Corndon Tor

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX67SE3
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 442864
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67SE/9
• Old SAM County Ref: 531

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CAIRN (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Worth, R. H., 1937, 56th Report on Barrows, 81, plate IX, fig 1 (Article in Serial). SDV20973.

Another large cairn lying 120 yards (110m) to the east-north-east of MDV6386 recorded by the Barrow Committee.
This cairn stands on sloping ground and its height measures 6 ft 6 ins (1.98m) on its uphill side and 12 ft 6 ins (3.8m) on its downhill side, diameter 66 ft (20.12m).

Worth, R. H., 1943, 62nd Report on Barrows, 53 (Article in Serial). SDV165840.

Cairns on Corndon Tor are mentioned briefly as having been 'rifled' through approximately 60 years previously by a group of around 50 people who found 'an old jar or two'. Article also states that the cairns have been robbed more recently for building stone. They were illustrated and described in the 56th Report on Barrows.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2149, 4418-4419 (Aerial Photograph). SDV282746.

Worth, R. H., 1953, Dartmoor, 164, plate 30 (Monograph). SDV231148.

Repeats the detail from the 56th Report on Barrows article (1937).

Department of Environment, 1964, Cairns north of Corndon Tor (Schedule Document). SDV346975.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 177 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(18/06/1972) Cairn, badly mutilated, diameter 26.0 metres, height 2.1 metres.

Beeson, M. M. R. + Masterman, M. C. H., 1979, An Archaeological Survey of Enclosed Land in Widecombe-In-The-Moor Parish, 984 (Report - Survey). SDV337078.

Other details: Volume 5.

National Monuments Record, 1980, SF1748, 360-373 (Aerial Photograph). SDV279663.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1980, SX67SE3 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV307429.

(02/06/1980) On top of Corndon Down at 423m OD are the remains of two large cairns both in fair condition. They are situated on outcropping rock and constructed of large stones, but are now much spread by mutilation (see ground photographs and plan).
'A' measures 28.0m in diameter, 1.9m high on its upper side and 3.1m on its lower side.
'B' measures 27.0m in diameter, is 2.9m high on its lower side and 1.9m on its upper side. There is a central excavation 2.0m by 3.0m and 1.2m deep, retained by coursed drystone walling formed from the cairn material.
Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD.

Robinson, R., 1984, List of Field Monument Warden Visits 1984 (Un-published). SDV343082.

Easterly of the two cairns on the lesser summit of Corndon Tor, this stone measures 26.0 meters in diameter, height 2.0 meters and is slightly turf-covered at the edges. Deep hollow centre and generally disturbed. A reave, part of the Dartmeet parallel system, just touches the western side, running north-east to south-west.

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

Large cairn visible on Royal Air Force 1947 and National Monuments Record 1980 aerial photographs.

Griffith, F. M., 1985, DAP/EN, 4 (Aerial Photograph). SDV346962.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume One - The East, 131 (Monograph). SDV299725.

North of Corndon Tor there is a second pair of large cairns, with a well-marked reave running between the two. The eastern cairn measures 21.0m in diameter, 2.5m in height. Other details: Map 15, 5.

Gerrard, S., 2004, List of Sites Remaining to be Considered for Designation on Dartmoor (Un-published). SDV345444.

Part of Dartmeet coaxial field system (Northern Part) which was considered for designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 2004. Other details: Site 43.

Newman, P., 2008, Dartmeet Premier Archaeological Landscape (PAL) Field Investigation Project (Report - Survey). SDV347061.

(14/03/2008) The remains of two large stony cairns on the northern summit of Corndon Tor spaced approximately 104m apart. Both have slightly oval footprints and have a maximum diameter of 28.5m.
The eastern cairn (SX 6867 7476) comprises a stony mound standing to over 2m high with a flattish top surface which has been badly disturbed by recent building of shelters. One very pronounced example is in centre of the cairn and appears recent. A reave, part of the Dartmeet system, touches the cairn tangentially on the west side but is not covered by it.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8296 - Dartmeet Premier Archaeological Landscape (PAL) Field Investigation Project
• EDV8501 - Excavation of cairn, Corndon Down

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