See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

The western of a pair of cairns. Composed of medium-size stones, measuring 9.6 metres east to west and 8.2 metres north to south and standing 0.8 metres high. Has a central depression 3.0 metres, 0.3 metres deep; spoil from it has produced a slight widening of the eastern arc, with two piles of removed stones adjacent.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1016636: Two cairns 720m and 800m east of Higher White Tor

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX67NW7
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 442528
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67NW/4
• Old SAM Ref: 28719

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

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

Prowse, A. B., 1891, The Ancient Metropolis of Dartmoor, 314 (Article in Serial). SDV245176.

Baring Gould, S., 1901, 7th Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, 137 (Article in Serial). SDV249499.

A. A cairn, 10 yds diameter and 3ft high, with no trace of a cist.
B. A cairn, 10 yds diameter and 4ft high, with no trace of a cist.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1979, SX67NW7 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV265208.

(05/09/1950) Remains of two cairns. Cairn A. Composed of turf covered stones. Has been despoiled on the top but not to the extent of the other cairn, otherwise in fairly good condition. Diameter 8.0 metres, height 0.8 metres.
A. Excavation revealed a central pit containing wood charcoal.
B. Excavation revealed a central depression containing wood charcoal and a "few ounces" of burnt bone.
(19/12/1979) On a S facing slope at 411m OD are the excavated remains of two turf covered cairns (see ground photographs) 'A' is much disturbed; it measures 9.3m by 8.2m and is 1.0m high. 'B' measures 9.2m in diameter and is 1.1m high with a 1.0m deep central pit.
Surveyed at 1:10 000 on MSD and at 1:2500 for AO Records.

Royal Air Force, 1951, RAF 540/483, 4048 (Aerial Photograph). SDV262763.

Royal Air Force, 1964, RAF/F63/58/6399, 30-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDV229824.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 148, Lydford 43 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(Visited 22/7/1972 by L. V. Grinsell and N. Beach) SX6270 7866. South-west of Archerton.
Cairn, large, hollow near centre, with probable remains of a retaining circle. Diameter 10 metres, height 1.2 metres.
Excavations c.1900 revealed central pit filled with wood charcoal, which 'probably originally contained burnt bones'.

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

Visible on 1951 Royal Air Force aerial photographs.

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

(19/07/1989) Two subcircular cairns situated at SX 62697865 A and B on a moderate southern slope between the Cherry brook and a tributary. They occupy a prominent position which commands the Cherrybrook valley.
A: A cairn composed of medium-size stones, partly covered in whortleberry, measuring 9.6 metres east to west and 8.2 metres north to south and standing 0.8 metres high.
A central depression is 3 metres across and 0.3 metres deep; spoil from it has produced a slight widening of the eastern arc, with two piles of removed stones adjacent. One is amorphous, the second is a rectangular mound 5.5 metres long, 2.5 metres wide and 0.4 metres high.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 149225, 17/9/1998 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

One of two cairns 720 metres east of Higher White Tor (at SX62707866). Diameter 7.7 metres, height 0.8 metres. Central pit 2.0 metres by 1.5 metres by 0.2 metres deep. Grass and gorse covered mound with edge set stones around the south edge which probably represent a kerb. A rectangular spoil dump lying 5.0 metres east-north-east of the cairn measures 5.0 metres by 2.5 metres and up to 0.3 metres high.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 48, 239, Map 27 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Rowtor Brook cairn '2' at SX62707866 of 8.5 metres diameter by 1.0 metres high. Grass covered mound with a deep central pit. Excavated in 1891 when a shallow central pit below the original ground surface was found which contained wood charcoal.

Ordnance Survey, 2017, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359962.

Depicted on the modern mapping.

Historic England, 2017, National Heritage List for England (National Heritage List for England). SDV359963.

The monument, which falls into two areas, includes two round cairns situated on a south facing slope overlooking the valley of the Cherry Brook. The western cairn survives as a 7.7m diameter and 0.8m high mound with a number of edge set stones around the southern perimeter which indicate the presence of a kerb, which survives elsewhere as a buried feature. The second cairn lies 90m to the south east and survives as a 10m diameter and 1.3m high mound surrounded by a stone kerb. Both mounds were excavated by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee in 1900 and this work revealed charcoal filled pits cut into the original ground surface beneath the cairns. The pit under the eastern cairn also contained some burnt bone. The hollows visible in the centre of each mound are the result of this investigation as is a small spoil dump adjacent to the western mound.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8486 - Excavation of cairn, south-west of Archerton
• EDV8645 - Powder Mills and Gawler Newtake, Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.