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Summary

Cairn '15' (Butler) with a cist and retaining circle to the south-east of Lower Piles

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1013101: Cist and retaining kerb south-east of Lower Piles

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX66SW55
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 442339
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66SW/18
• Old SAM County Ref: 819
• Old SAM Ref: 10523

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Rowe, S., 1848, Perambulation of Dartmoor, 80 (Monograph). SDV154476.

Kelly, T., 1866, Celtic remains on Dartmoor, 46 (Article in Serial). SDV154696.

Cist referred to by author.

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

'Kistvaen (Remains of)' shown on 19th century map.

Crossing, W., 1912 (1965), Crossing's Guide to Dartmoor, 400 (Monograph). SDV320981.

Worth, R. H., 1917, 36th Report of the Barrow Committee, 79-80 (Article in Serial). SDV157184.

Finest example of a kisvaen in the Erme Valley lies on the open moor about 150 yards (137m) south of the south-east angle of Lower Piles enclosure.
The cist is of fair size. The slabs constituting the sides lean inward somewhat. At surface level it measures 3ft. 7in. (1.9m) in length by 1ft. 4in. (0.4m) wide at the south-eastern end and 2ft. (0.6m) wide at the north-western. Present depth is 2ft. 9in. (0.84m) to 3ft. (0.91m), the internal width at the present floor level is 2ft. 8in. (0.81m).
The coverstone has gone and either there never was an endstone to the north-west, or it has been removed.
The end is now formed by several small stones, probably part of the cairn.
To the south-east about 100ft. (30m) distant stands a single large stone.

Worth, R. H., 1943, 62nd Report on Barrows, 55, Plate 11, figs 1 and 2 (Article in Serial). SDV165840.

Lower Piles kisvaen. Largely refers to the article in 36th Barrow Report. Two views (plate 11) of the kist are now given, one showing the retaining circle.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1977, SX66SW55 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV165835.

(24/03/1950) The capstone and north-west endstone of the cist are missing.
(03/08/1977) SX 64536025 A small round cairn 4.3m diameter and 0.4m high, lies on a moderate, well drained, north west facing slope at 300m above OD. It is constructed of small boulders, now turf covered, and edged by a retaining circle, which consist of 7 stones, maximum size, 1.3m by 0.25m and 1.1m high.
A cist, 1.0m by 0.7 to 0.8m internally and 0.9m deep, is placed off-centre and aligned on a grid bearing of 156o. The northeast sidestone measures 1.5m by 0.2m; the southwest 1.25m by 0.15m and the southeast endstone 0.7m by 0.2m. The northwest end is revetted with boulders to a height of 0.6m; the cover stone is missing.
It is in good condition. 1:10 000 survey revised on MSD

Davidson, C. + Seabrook, R., 1973, Stone Rings on south-east Dartmoor, 28, 33-4, Figures 11-12, 20 (Article in Serial). SDV345864.

In good condition and regarded as astronomically interesting.

Burl, A., 1975, The Stone Circles of the British Isles, 345 (Monograph). SDV165842.

National Monuments Record, 1976, NMR SX6460, 3 (Aerial Photograph). SDV157244.

Photograph taken on 8th April 1976.

Hankin, C. F., 1977-1980, Harford Parish Checklist (Worksheet). SDV149931.

North-west endstone missing. Top edge of the four sides now almost level with the ground.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 140 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

Robinson, R., 1982, List of Field Monument Warden Visits 1982 (Un-published). SDV342809.

Site visited on 1st June 1982.

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

Visible on aerial photograph and recorded.

Robinson, R., 1986, List of Field Monument Warden Visits 1986 (Un-published). SDV345664.

Site visited on 19th December 1986.

Turner, J. R., 1990, Ring Cairns, Stone Circles and Related Monuments on Dartmoor, 42, 72, d13 (Article in Serial). SDV229817.

Ring setting 3.7 metres internal diameter, around a central cist. Seven stones in the ring including one taller than the remainder, forming a visual focal point.

Butler, J., 1993, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Four - The South-East, 30-33, Map 53, Figure 53.9 (Monograph). SDV337765.

Cairn '15' at SX64536026 with a cist and a prominent retaining circle of seven slabs. The tops of a few stones further from the base suggest there may be buried outer rings. Two sides and an end stone remain of the cist but most of the mound has gone.

Cartographic Engineering, 2006, Dartmoor 2006 1:1250 Aerial Photography (digital) (Aerial Photograph). SDV345590.

Visible on aerial photograph.

Ordnance Survey, 2021, MasterMap 2021 (Cartographic). SDV364015.

Southern of two 'Cairns' shown on modern mapping with a square cist shown within it.

Historic England, 2021, National Heritage List for England, 1013101 (National Heritage List for England). SDV364016.

This monument consists of a cist within the retaining kerb of a cairn about 4 metres in diameter, remaining 0.3 metres high. The cist lies slightly to the east of the centre and is orientated south-east to north-west. Three of its side stones are in place, the north-west end being formed by smaller stones, possibly cairn material. The capstone is missing. It measures 1.2 metres in length, 0.6 metres wide at the south-east end and 0.4 metres wide at the north-west, with a depth of 0.9 metres. The slabs are 0.2 metres thick. The retaining kerb consists of six orthostats, averaging 0.3 metres high above the mound, with one large stone on the downhill side a metre high.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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