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Summary

Remains of a round cairn of 5.3 metres diameter by 0.7 metres high lying 220 metres east of the Grey Wethers stone circles in Great Stannon newtake. Excavation on 1902 revealed a central pit filled with charcoal

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1018707: Two stone circles known as The Grey Wethers, three round cairns, two ring cairns and an oval enclosure in Great Stannon Newtake
• SHINE: Prehistoric cairn lying 280 metres east of the Grey Wethers stone circles

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68SW29
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 443954
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68SW/54
• Old SAM Ref: 28680

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Baring Gould, S., 1898, 5th Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, 113 (Article in Serial). SDV265401.

A barrow, with a 16ft diameter, situated 300 yds east of Grey Wethers (SX 68 SW 1) (plots at SX 641831). Excavations in 1897/8 exposed a pit containing a little charcoal.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1995, 2365-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDV224714.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 145 (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(04/07/1976) Cairn, or barrow excavated. Central pit contained charcoal. Diameter 5 metres, height 0.3 metres.

Greeves, T., 1983, Cairn east of Grey Wethers (Worksheet). SDV224024.

Visited on 16th May 1983. Small conventional barrow visible from Grey Wethers. No sign of hollow in top surface or signs of any excavation disturbance. Appears to be the same as Grinsell's, Lydford 16.

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

Not visible on 1977 NMR aerial photograph.

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

(02/07/1990) No observations recorded.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 144193 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(09/09/1997) Cairn lying 280m east of the Grey Wethers stone circles. Round cairn. Diameter 5.3 metres, hight 0.7 metres. Pit. Grass covered mound with protruding stones. A path passes south of the mound and there is erosion on this.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 165-6, 242, Map 35,, Site 17 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Grey Wethers E. cairn at SX64118321 of 5.0 metres diameter by 0.4 metres high lies 200 metres north-east of the Grey Wethers stone circles. Excavations in 1898 found it was undisturbed but the 0.8 metres deep central pit contained nothing but charcoal.

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

Cairn shown on survey.

Historic England, 2023, National Heritage List for England, 1018707 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365228.

The monument, which falls into six areas, includes two stone circles, three round cairns, two ring cairns and an oval enclosure lying at the head of three separate rivers within Great Stannon Newtake. A round cairn lying 280m east of the stone circles was also investigated by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, whose work revealed a central pit filled with charcoal. This cairn now survives as a 5.3 metres diameter and 0.7 metres high stony mound.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8535 - Barrow east of Grey Whethers excavated
• EDV8650 - Great Stannon Newtake, Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8409 - Dartmoor Royal Forest Project
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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