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Summary

Cairn and cist on a moderate SE slope amid light clitter, gorse and heather. It occupies the crest between slight slope angles. The cist, aligned NE/SW, measures 1.1m long by 0.65m wide internally and 0.55m deep with the coverstone lying to the S. The grass-covered cairn measures 8.0m by 6.6m with a maximum height of 0.8m. The kerb is most evident on the NW where it incorporates one stone 2.2m long apparently Burnard's menhir. The cist lies approximately in the centre of a subcircular cairn measuring 7 by 6.5m the longer axis and cist aligned NNE to SSW. It is stoney but almost turf-covered with two large kerbstones, including Burnards 'menhir' remaining in situ in the NW. The cist is flush with the cairn top, which is flattish and stands only 0.2m high on the NW but up to 0.7m high on the SE, downhill side. This may be the cairns original form; built into the slope as a flat platform with the cist visible.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1016638: A partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement, two cairns containing cists and a post-medieval building 440m NNW of Powder Mills

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX67NW15
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 442552
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67NW/13
• Old SAM County Ref: 916A
• Old SAM Ref: 28721

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Ancient Monuments, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV263686.

Vis=5/10/1972 (ancient monuments) two kistvaens 400m north west of powder mills. Situated in an area of gorse and moorland grass. A. In a small mound 7.5m in diameter stone cist 1.3m by 6m lies open with the top slab lying on one side. The mound shows signs of a small scale kerb. Obviously robbed although whether the mound ever covered the top of the cist is not known.

Burnard, R., 1890, Notes on Dartmoor Kistvaens, 207 (Article in Serial). SDV265355.

Breton, H. H., 1926, The Heart of Dartmoor, Morwenstow, 34-5 (Monograph). SDV265360.

Worth, R. H., 1938, 57th Report of the Barrow Committee, 61 (Article in Serial). SDV320309.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1979, SX67NW15, plan, photograph (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV263696.

(06/09/1950) The cist is oriented north - south and is in good condition with the capstone resting on the east side. The depth of the cist is 0.6m. The mound in which the cist is centred is rather slight 0.3m high and much disturbed. The diameter is 5.5m several partly buried stones of the retaining circle remain. Stennen Hill near Powder Mills. Well preserved kist, cover stone has been moved aside but is intact. The cover stone is irregular. The retaining circle consists of long kerb like stones similar to those found at Archerton. The longest stone, height 1.7m lies approximately parallel to the western side stone of the kist.(source of this unknown).
(15/11/1979) SX 62567789. On a SE slope at 404m OD is a ruined cairn with cist, surrounded by a kerb. The cist, aligned NE/SW, measures 1.1m long by 0.65m wide internally and 0.55m deep with the coverstone lying to the S. The grass-covered cairn measures 8.0m by 6.6m with a maximum height of 0.8m. The kerb is most evident on the NW where it incorporates one stone 2.2m long apparently Burnard's menhir. See ground photographs.
Surveyed at 1:10 000 and at 1:2500 for AO Records.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 148, Lydford 47 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(12/06/1976) Diameter c.5.0m and height 0.2m. Retaining circle of close-set kerb-like stones enclosing cist placed NNE/SSW on Stennen Hill. Capstone to south-east.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1987-1993, Duchy Farms Project Survey Visit, P. Pattison (Report - Survey). SDV350839.

(19/07/1989) Cairn and cist situated at SX 62577?990 on a moderate SE slope amid light clitter, gorse and heather. It occupies the crest between slight slope angles.
The cist is as described by Ordnance Survey (1979) and its plan remains identical to that illustrated by Worth (1938).
The cist lies approximately in the centre of a subcircular cairn measuring 7 by 6.5m the longer axis and cist aligned NNE to SSW. It is stoney but almost turf-covered with two large kerbstones, including Burnard's 'menhir' remaining in situ in the NW. The cist is flush with the cairn top, which is flattish and stands only 0.2m high on the NW but up to 0.7m high on the SE, downhill side. This may be the cairns original form; built into the slope as a flat platform with the cist visible.

Turner, J. R., 1990, Ring Cairns, Stone Circles and Related Monuments on Dartmoor, 47, 48, 74/E13 (Article in Serial). SDV229817.

Platform circle. Ring of kerb stones, 6m internal diameter, enclosing flat-topped cairn 0.2m high with central cist. One kerb stone on n side is 2.3m long.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 149297 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(1998) At SX 62567789. A cairn and cist 510m north-north-west of Powder Mills.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8645 - Powder Mills and Gawler Newtake, Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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