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Summary

Remains of a cairn with a cist. The cairn was recorded in 1978 as measuring 5.2m in diameter and 0.7m high with the remains of a retaining circle. The cist is 1.1m by 0.6m and 0.6m deep with a stone floor; it is aligned north west by south east. 2002 survey recorded the height of the cairn had been reduced to 0.2m high. The retaining kerb is 4.9m north-south by 4.7m in diameter and 0.3m high. Condition survey in 2020 recorded very good condition.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1012211: Cairn with a cist south-east of Shavercombe Tor

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56NE101
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/178
• Old SAM Ref: 10651
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX56NE101
• Pastscape: 438788

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Worth, R. H., 1933, 52nd Report of the Barrow Committee, 84, plate 8, figs. 6-7 (Article in Serial). SDV153704.

Shavercombe, cist C on plan, near the stream. Good specimen, but cover stone missing. One side stone markedly longer than the other. Measures 1.0m by 0.54m by 0.63m deep.

Worth, R. H., 1937, 56th Report of the Barrow Committee, 87, fig. 9 (Article in Serial). SDV20973.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950, SX56NE101, Plan (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV153705.

(18/05/1950) There is a retaining circle surrounding the cist of 4.0m diameter. Seven stones remain and all are fallen.

Ordnance Survey, 1953-1969, 1953-1969 National Grid OS A edition imperial, 1954 (Cartographic). SDV352727.

(SX 5691 6588) Cists (NR) (One of a group of five cists).

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 163 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(08/06/1974) Cist placed south-east by north-west, cap stone is missing.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1978, SX56NE101 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV153708.

(20/12/1978) To the west of Shavercombe Brook, on a north west facing slope at approximately 373.0 m OD is the remains of a cairn with a cist. The cairn is 5.2m in diameter and 0.7m high with the remains of a retaining circle. The cist is 1.1m by 0.6m and 0.6m deep with a stone floor; it is aligned north west by south east. Revised at 1:10 000 on PFD.

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

Not visible on the 1946 verticals aerial photographs.

Turner, J. R., 1990, Ring Cairns, Stone Circles and Related Monuments on Dartmoor, 72, D14 (Article in Serial). SDV229817.

Ring setting measuring 3.7m (internal diameter) around central cist.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 146, Map 49.22 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Butler's cairn 6 (4.0 by 0.2m) Although inconspicuous, it remains a good specimen. Capstone has gone but all four sidestones remain around cist and most of the stones of the retaining circle appear to remain. Includes a detailed sketch of the cist remains.

Thackray, C., 1994, The Upper Plym Valley: the management of an historic landscape (Report - non-specific). SDV143510.

Probert, S. A. J. + Fletcher, M. J., 2002, Plym Valley survey (Report - Survey). SDV350782.

(15/01/2002) SX 5960 6589. This feature is broadly as described by the Ordnance Survey (1978) though the height of the cairn has been reduced to 0.2m high. The retaining kerb is 4.9m north-south by 4.7m in diameter and 0.3m high.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, UPHT-32 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

(16/03/2020) Condition of the cairn assessed as very good, vegetation is not having an impact on the site at this time. Description of the cairn from the HER is impressive but feature blends in to landscape making cist hard to find in tall grass (see photo 1). Description of cist is accurate. At time of survey 150mm of water in cist.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording photographs (Photograph). SDV363073.

Photographs taken during March 2020 visit.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8148 - The Upper Plym Valley: The Management of an Historic Landscape
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey

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