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Summary

A probable platform cairn 8.0 metres by 9.1 metres across is visible as a level stance on a slight north-west facing hillslope at 261m above Ordnance Datum. It is defined by an incomplete ring of earthfast stones and boulders a maximum 0.5 metres high with, in the interior, a few visible boulders. A scarp on the downhill side indicates a slight levelled platform. Tracks skirt the south-east side of the feature.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Bronze age landscapes on Shaugh Moor and Wooter Moor comprising earthworks and walling of enclosures, hut circles, cairns, stone circles and rows, reaves and field systems, and medieval and post medieval field systems

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56SE148
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 439531
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SE/114
• Old SAM County Ref: 430

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PLATFORM 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.

'Cairn' shown on early 20th century map.

National Monuments Record, 1976, NMR SX5863, 3 (Aerial Photograph). SDV148504.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 165, Shaugh Prior 41B (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(08/05/1976) At SX55486347, ring cairn or traces of cairn with retaining circle, found by Plymouth Archaeological Group 1959. Diameter 11.5 metres, height 0.3 metres.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1980, SX56SE148 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV146754.

(27/08/1980) A cairn 9.00 metres in diameter with traces of a spaced stone kerb. It appears as a flat terrace some 40 centimetres high on a north facing slope and this may have been its original profile (citing Smith, K., 02/04/1980, Typescript notes and plan on Shaugh Moor, not archived).
The cairn, at SX 55476347, is as described above (see ground photograph and 1:2500 plan with 56 SE 45). Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD.

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

(Visited 21/4/1982) Department of Environment Field Monument Warden visit.

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

Visible on 1976 aerial photograph and recorded on map overlay.

Turner, J. R., 1990, Ring Cairns, Stone Circles and Related Monuments on Dartmoor, 73, E3 (Article in Serial). SDV229817.

Platform circle with stone ring 8.5 metres in diameter internally with flat topped cairn 0.3 metres high inside.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three - The South-West, 104-6, Map 48, Figure 48.5 (Monograph). SDV137656.

Saddlesborough N.W. cairn at SX55476347 of 10.5 metres diameter by 0.3 metres high. The cairn is to the east of Shaugh Moor stone row.

Fletcher, M. + Probert, S., 1998, Shaugh Moor, Devon: An Archaeological Survey (Report - Survey). SDV343481.

(Visited 01/12/1997) SX55476347. A probable platform cairn 8.0 metres by 9.1 metres across is visible as a level stance on a slight north-west facing hillslope at 261m above Ordnance Datum. It is defined by an incomplete ring of earthfast stones and boulders a maximum 0.5 metres high with, in the interior, a few visible boulders. A scarp on the downhill side indicates a slight levelled platform. Tracks skirt the south-east side of the feature.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 1999-2017, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX5563 31-MAY-2016 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363087.

A partial ring of stones is visible.

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

Cairn shown on survey.

NERC, 2013, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) Tellus: South Devon to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5563 Tellus DTM 01-JUL-2013 to 31-AUG-2013 (Cartographic). SDV361514.

A mound or platform is identifiable as an earthwork.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, SM-39 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

Visited 20/10/2019. Internally 5 stones found but are either only just poking through grass and moss or were covered but could be found. Area lightly grazed. Localized low height bracken and gorse throughout. Overall condition good. Photo X2 taken.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording photographs, SM-39 (Photograph). SDV363073.

Photo 1: Overall view looking E. Photo 2: View of N face of cairn showing scarp looking SW.

Ordnance Survey, 2019, MasterMap 2019 (Cartographic). SDV362729.

Cairn is depicted on the modern mapping.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

A slight mound or platform circa 11 metres in diameter on is identifiable as an earthwork on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2013, on the north-west facing slopes of Shaugh Moor.
A ring of at least 6 stones can be seen within the area of the mound on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2016.
The earthwork mound is interpreted as the possibly spread remains of a cairn or barrow of probable of Bronze Age date. The partial ring of stones might be evidence of an earthfast stone kerb, possibly defining the original extent of the cairn.
A slight hollow up to 3 metres across identifiable just north of the cairn’s centre point might be evidence of historic damage.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4967 - Shaugh Moor Survey (1997-1998)
• EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

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