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Summary

Cairn alignment crossing a ridge forming a saddle between sourton tor to w and corn ridge to e. It is 344.5m long, running n-s on almost level land, falling less than 2m at the s end. In total some 74 small cairns are visible; their diams range from 1-2.5m and heights from 0.1-0.4m, with a spacing of 4-6m. At s end (sx54608944) is a much larger cairn, 10m in dam and 0.3m high (see sx58nw/3). From that cairn the first 45m of alignment have been heavily disturbed by wheel tracks, making it difficult to define the exact location and size of any cairns, although cairn material is clearly visible, perhaps hiding 8-9 small examples. Similarly, the construction of a trench on the line of the parish boundary has created a gap suggesting the removal of at least another 7 cairns, therefore suggesting that the original alignment could have contained 90-92 small cairns. On the s edge of the n cairn (sx54748982) there is a small slab measuring 0.7 by 0.4m which is in line with the alignment.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX58NW/156

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

SX54608944, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV271853.

Cairn alignment crossing a ridge forming a saddle between sourton tor to w and corn ridge to e. It is 344.5m long, running n-s on almost level land, falling less than 2m at the s end. In total some 74 small cairns are visible; their diams range from 1-2.5m and heights from 0.1-0.4m, with a spacing of 4-6m. At s end (sx54608944) is a much larger cairn, 10m in dam and 0.3m high (see sx58nw/3). From that cairn the first 45m of alignment have been heavily disturbed by wheel tracks, making it difficult to define the exact location and size of any cairns, although cairn material is clearly visible, perhaps hiding 8-9 small examples. Similarly, the construction of a trench on the line of the parish boundary has created a gap suggesting the removal of at least another 7 cairns, therefore suggesting that the original alignment could have contained 90-92 small cairns. On the s edge of the n cairn (sx54748982) there is a small slab measuring 0.7 by 0.4m which is in line with the alignment.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV271855.

Turner, j. R. /pdas/49(1991)143/a cairn alignment on sourton common, dartmoor.

Turner, J. R., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV37204.

With a cairn placed at either end of the alignment it may be that the function of the alignment is similar to that of stone rows (turner).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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