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Summary

Cairn of 13 metres diameter by 0.5 metres high within cairn cemetery on the south-west side of White Hill. A central hollow 3 metres long by 1 metre wide by 0.1 metres deep is probably the result of the 1888 excavation, which revealed a pan or basin containing ashes and charcoal. The ditch has been infilled over the years, but survives as 2.5 metres ring of enhanced grass growth.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1011478: Round cairn 340m south-west of White Hill summit, forming part of the White Hill round cairn cemetery
• SHINE: Linear Bronze Age cairn cemetery on the south-west slopes of White Hill

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX58SW/3/4
• Old SAM County Ref: 19A
• Old SAM Ref: 20347
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Eastern of a row of three 'Tumuli' shown on 19th century map.

Baring Gould, S., 1888, 10th Report of the Barrow Committee, 47-8 (Article in Serial). SDV222380.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2149, 4290 (Aerial Photograph). SDV282746.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1979, SX58SW4, Cairn D (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV268214.

(13/08/1979) Cairn on White Hill. Cairn approx. diameter 13m though it merges into natural slope. Height 0.5m. Slight depression in centre, and a 'cropmark' may show an infilled trench. Possibly excavated by Baring Gould.

Ancient Monuments, 1959, Schedule note (Schedule Document). SDV222381.

(June 1959) Low flat cairn measuring 0.6m high, 13m diameter. Misshapen.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 159, Peter Tavy 5 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(22/06/1974) Cairn, diameter 12m height 0.4m.

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

Recorded.

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

(1992) Flat topped cairn. Diameter 13m, height 0.5m. Central hollow 3m long by 1m wide by 0.1m deep is probably the result of baring Gould's 1888 excavation, which revealed a pan or basin containing ashes and charcoal. Ditch has been infilled over the years, but survives as 2.5m ring of enhanced grass growth.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 106-108, 242, Map 32, Figure 32.6 (Monograph). SDV219155.

White Hill cairn '5' at SX53108365 of circa 10 metres diameter by 0.7 metres high within the cemetery to the south-west of White Hill was excavated in 1888. Much of the structure has been removed.

English Heritage, 2005-2008, Prehistoric Survey Information (Cartographic). SDV345521.

Cairn shown on survey.

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour aerial photography for Dartmoor (12.5cm resolution) (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Visible on aerial photograph.

Ordnance Survey, 2012, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV348725.

Shown on modern mapping.

English Heritage, 2012, National Heritage List for England, 1011478 (National Heritage List for England). SDV348729.

Round cairn 340m south-west of White Hill summit, forming part of the White Hill round cairn cemetery. This monument includes a round cairn situated on a gentle west-facing slope overlooking Willsworthy Army Camp. The cairn mound is flat-topped, measures 13m in diameter and stands up to 0.5m high. A shallow hollow in the centre of the mound is probably the result of a partial excavation by Baring Gould in 1888. This work revealed a pan or basin containing ashes and charcoal. A ditch, from which material was quarried during the construction of the cairn, surrounds the mound. This has become infilled over the years, but survives as a 2.5m wide ring of enhanced grass cover caused by increased moisture in the buried ditch.
Despite evidence for partial excavation, the round cairn 340m south-west of White Hill summit survives comparatively well and forms part of the White Hill round cairn cemetery which includes three ring cairns and nine round cairns.
Date scheduled: 23rd July 1963. Date of most recent amendment: 29th September 1993.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7368 - Survey of the Willsworthy Training Area, Peter Tavy (1998)
• EDV6663 - Survey of the Willsworthy Training Area
• EDV6664 - Survey of the Willsworthy Training Area
• EDV6665 - Survey of the Willsworthy Training Area
• EDV8141 - Condition survey of the Willsworthy Training Area

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