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Summary

Cairn visible as an unbroken circular bank 11.5 metres in external diameter. The bank measures 2.4 to 3.7 metres wide and a maximum of 0.75 metres high externally encloses a flat platform around 6 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres above the present ground surface.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Prehistoric ring cairn and cist with remains of retaining stone circle circa 650 metres south-west of Bellever Tor

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX67NW47
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 442648
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67NW/254
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX67NW47

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CAIRN (Constructed, Bronze Age - 2200 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.

Worth, R. H., 1938, 57th Report of the Barrow Committee, 62 (Article in Serial). SDV320309.

Royal Air Force, 1946, CPE/UK 1890, 2465-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDV140289.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1979, SX67NW47 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV346622.

(01/09/1950) A circular earthen and stone cairn covered in heather. Slightly hollowed in the centre where there are very small stones bared of earth. No sign of a cist. The condition is good. Measures 0.7 metres high.
(03/12/1979) On a flattish spur to the south-west of Bellever Tor is the remains of a cairn, now grass-covered, measuring 11.5m. in diameter and 0.5m. in height. It has a continuous hard packed rim which varies in width from 0.8m to 2.5m., but loose stone within the rim suggests that this is a robbed cairn. (see ground photograph).
Surveyed at 1:10 000 and at 1:2500 for A.O Records.

National Monuments Record, 1977, SX6375, 2/321-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDV346613.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 150 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

Site visited on 12th September 1972. Second cairn of the five in 'Black Newtake' to the south-west of Bellever Tor. Diameter 11.0 metres, height 0.3 metres. A truncated cairn.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, SX67NW (Cartographic). SDV346612.

This cairn is very clearly visible as an area of darker vegetation on aerial photographs.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1987-1993, Duchy Farms Project Survey Visit, S. A. J. Probert (Report - Survey). SDV350839.

(22/06/1989) At SX 63867603 on level scrub covered moorland is a cairn visible as an unbroken circular bank 11.5m in external diameter. The bank 2.4 to 3.7m wide and a maximum of 0.75 m high externally encloses a flat platform c6m in diameter and 0.5m above the present ground surface.
Some small stones appear in the N and E margins of the feature and several larger stones are visible on the platform. There is no trace of a cist, and though the centre has been disturbed the impression is that the platform and rim are original features.

Turner, J. R., 1990, Ring Cairns, Stone Circles and Related Monuments on Dartmoor, 68, Fig. 25 (Article in Serial). SDV229817.

A50. Ring cairn in 'Black Newtake'. Infilled stone ring 7.3 metres internal diameter with bank 1.2 metres wide and 0.3 metres high. Infilled to 0.15 metres below the bank top.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 52-53, 239, Map 27, Figure 27.14 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Bellever Tor cairn '4' at SX63857605 of 11.0 mrtres diameter by 0.5 metres high is a ring cairn. A single slab faces the circle 4.5 metres to the south-east.
Bellever Tor cairn '5' at SX63857603 of 6.0 metres diameter by 1.0 metres high. The substantial mound has been trenched at ground level from the north edge to the centre but with no sign of a cist.

Gerrard, S., 2004, List of Sites Remaining to be Considered for Designation on Dartmoor (Un-published). SDV345444.

One of three cairns to the south-west of Bellever Tor which were considered for designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 2004. Other details: Site 102.

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

Cairn shown on survey.

Gerrard, S., 2006, Dartmoor Nationally Important Sites (Cartographic). SDV345607.

Outline shown.

National Monuments Record, 2011, 442648 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV346623.

The remains of a ruined cairn with no evidence that it ever covered a cist.

Ordnance Survey, 2011, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV346129.

'Cairn' shown as a circular feature on modern mapping.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8640 - Spaders and Muddilake and Smith Hill Newtakes, Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project

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