See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

One of a group of cairns of 12.5 metres diameter by 0.5 metres high to the east of White Tor. Originally thought to be a separate cairn it is was considered by Gerrard to be part of one long cairn (see also MDV4163), but has been referred to in surveys from 2003, 2004 and 2018 as a separate feature.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1007980: Long cairn 350m east of White Tor summit

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX57NW/52/3
• Old SAM Ref: 22205
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX57NW7
• Pastscape: 439741

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

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

Eastern of a group of three 'Tumuli' shown on early 20th century map.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950, SX57NW7 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV227688.

(Visited 03/07/1950) To the east of White Tor and near a ruined kistvaen are the remains of three barrows.
This cairn is in a very dilapidated condition. The stones from it have been scattered and now cover an area measuring ?.8 metres by 12 metres. It is oval-shaped.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 160, No. 26 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

Site visit 8th May 1974. An oval cairn east of White Tor. 18.0 metres by 14 metres diameter, 0.6 metres high.

Griffith, F. M., 1986, Cairn at White Tor (Personal Comment). SDV227691.

Like the one to the west, this may be a small multiple stone ring.

Gerrard, S., 1990-1994, Monument Protection Programme (Report - Survey). SDV350743.

Long cairn. Mound measures 36 metres long by 12 metres wide and stands up to 0.6 metres high. East and west ends of the mound are stony, whilst the area between is largely devoid of stone with the exception a fragmentary kerb, which is particularly visible on the s side of the mound. This central area is probably the result of an early partial excavation or robbing. Some doubt concerning identification of this site. All published works and NAR describe this site as two separate round barrows. Field Monument Warden and MPP fieldworker, however believe that there is a strong possibility that the stone kerb running from one distinct mound to the other may represent the kerb of a long cairn. Royal Commission believe that this is probably fortuitous patterns of exposed sub-surface stones. There are however no other such exposures within the immediate vicinity of the site. Of more significance is the pear shaped plan of the mound which is typical of Dartmoor long cairns. Furthermore, the close proximity of the nearby Neolithic hillfort on White Tor provides some additional weight for the long cairn identification.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 96, 241, Map 31, Site 22 (Monograph). SDV219155.

White Tor E. '3' cairn at SX54607866 of 12.5 metres diameter by 0.3 metres high.

GetMapping, 1999 - 2000, Dartmoor 1999-2000 1:1250 Aerial Photography (digital) (Aerial Photograph). SDV345751.

Visible on the aerial photograph, but may be the eastern end of a long cairn, rather than separate feature.

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

Most easterly cairn of group of three. Heavily disturbed barrow with an elongated outline, 17.2 metres by 12.6 metres by 0.5 metres high. Probably the site excavated in 1899 which unearthed a spatula-shaped implement.

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

Visited 10/08/2004. Condition is poor.

English Heritage, 2013, National Heritage List for England (National Heritage List for England). SDV350785.

Long cairn 350 metres east of White Tor summit. The monument includes a long cairn situated on a gentle south-east facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Walkham. The cairn mound measures 36m long by 12m wide and stands up to 0.6 metres high. The eastern and western ends of the mound are stony, whilst the area between is largely devoid of stone with the exception of a fragmentary kerb which is particularly visible on the south side of the mound. This central area is probably the result of an early partial excavation or robbing.

Newman, P., 2018, Archaeological Sites within Merrivale Training Area, Dartmoor National Park, Devon: A condition survey on behalf of Defence Infrastructure Organisation, 11/01/2018 (Report - Survey). SDV361635.

Group of three mutilated round cairns, comprising turf-covered stony mounds on an exposed ridge south-east of Whittor on open moorland. Condition is poor, but stable. Much legacy damage to this feature.

Ordnance Survey, 2018, MasterMap 2018 (Cartographic). SDV360652.

Cairn depicted on modern mapping as one of three cairns at this site (shown larger than they appear on the aerial photograph).

National Monument Record, 2018, Pastscape, (1978 and 1987 survey data) (Website). SDV360651.

Three prehistoric round cairns on the eastern slopes of Whittor.
The easterly cairn has a diameter of approximately 12.5 metres and a height of 0.6 metres.
This group of three disturbed and mutilated cairns is situated on a fairly exposed ridge of high ground in open boulder-free moorland and is composed of earth and scattered stones. All three cairns are in a very ruinous condition. Surveyed at 1:10 000 on PFD. See ground photograph (citing Ordnance Survey, 13/10/1978).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Centred SX54607867. This group of three disturbed and mutilated cairns is situated on a fairly exposed ridge of high ground in open boulder-free moorland.
SX54587864 (Grinsell's no 25) A stripped cairn c9.5m in diameter and approximately 0.4m high. It survives as a circular spread of medium-sized stones close-packed and apparently placed at random; it does not appear to be a multiple ring type. There is no evident Kerb. (SAM no. 545b)
The 10 additional cairns depicted around these cairns on the Royal Commission (1985) aerial photograph project transcript could not be traced on the ground and they almost certainly do not exist. The spongy moorland turf in this area is easily disfigured by animal paths, vehicle tracks and water channels. The small sub-circular ditch-type patterns evident on the Royal Commission aerial photograph no. SX5478/1.229 are the result of natural and artificial activity and have no archaeological significance. 'It is not altogether clear why Grinsell chose the northern cairn as the excavated feature as all three more or less fit the siting given in the T.D.A., however, on balance, he is probably correct. It also seems odd that the prominent cairn (no 26) is not Scheduled. The AM report (though inadequate) of 1964 attributed by the SMR to no. 25 seems to best fit no. 26'. (citing Fletcher, M. J., 19/11/1987, Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments in England Field Survey data).

Ordnance Survey, 2022, Mastermap 2022 (Cartographic). SDV364674.

One of a group of four 'Cairns' shown on modern mapping.

National Mapping Programme, post-1985, Dartmoor NMP Transcription data (Cartographic). SDV364293.

Eastern of a group of three circular features shown.

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

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.