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Summary

Cairn mound measures of 7 metres in diameter and stands up to 0.6 metres high. A central hollow, 2 metres by 1.8 etres by 1 metre deep, is faced on two sides with large slabs which may represent the cist described by Falcon in 1905 as being 4ft long by 2ft wide. A ring of edge set stones around this cist is visible and may represent an internal kerb, which survives largely as a buried feature. Two stones set on edge on the eastern periphery of the mound may represent a second cist.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1010771: A round cairn 190m north east of Cawsand Beacon forming part of a cairn cemetery on the summit of Cawsand Hill

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX69SW45
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 444213
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX69SW/84
• Old SAM County Ref: 785B
• Old SAM Ref: 24146
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX69SW45

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Wilkinson, J. G., 1862, On British Remains on Dartmoor, 41, 43 (Article in Serial). SDV277122.

Wilkinson notes the occurrence of several cairns on Cosden Down.

Ormerod, G. W., 1864, On the Hut Circles on the Eastern Side of Dartmoor, 300 (Article in Serial). SDV304174.

Falcon, T. A., 1905, Dartmoor: A Note on Graves, 459 (Article in Serial). SDV255372.

Ancient Monuments, 1970, Schedule note (Schedule Document). SDV271236.

(18/03/1970) Remains of cairn with robbed out cist in centre. Second cist on the east edge of the barrow. East and south side-stones in situ - no signs of the others.

Grinsell, L. V., 1978, Dartmoor Barrows, 169, South Tawton 1b (Article in Serial). SDV273224.

(May 1976) At SX 6372 9164. Cairn on Cawsand Hill, diameter 7m, height 0.3m, with the possible remains of a central cist. Cist originally noted by Falcon (1905) as being approx 3.5 - 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, aligned apparently NE-SW. The SW and NE sides were fairly recognisable.

Weston, K., 1983, Field Monument Warden Site Visit (Site Visit). SDV271286.

(Visited 1983) FMW visit.

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

Not visible on RAF / NMR photographs.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 133336 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(17/01/1994) Round cairn situated on the summit ridge of Cawsand Hill. Forms part of a cemetery including at least two round cairns, two ring cairns and one platform cairn.
Cairn mound measures 7m in diameter and stands up to 0.6m high. A central hollow, 2m by 1.8m by 1m deep, is faced on two sides with large slabs which may represent the cist described by Falcon in 1905 as being 4ft long by 2ft wide. A ring of edge set stones around this cist is visible and may represent an internal kerb, which survives largely as a buried feature. Two stones set on edge on the eastern periphery of the mound may represent a second cist.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 206-7, 244, Map 40, Figure 40.8 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Cosdon Beacon cairn '4' at SX63729164 of 6.5 metres diameter by 0.6 metres high with a cist. The centre has been dug into to reveal a carefully structured interior. Two slabs on the edge of the pit are probably the sides of a cist.

Environment Agency WMS, 2019, LiDAR DSM data (1m resolution), 2019 (Cartographic). SDV362957.

Visible on the lidar data.

Historic England, 2023, National Heritage List for England, 1010771 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365228.

This monument includes a round cairn situated on the summit ridge of Cawsand or Cosdon Hill. The cairn forms part of a cemetery including at least two round cairns, two ring cairns and one platform cairn. The cairn mound measures 7 metres in diameter and stands up to 0.6 metres high. A hollow in the centre of the mound representing an early excavation is faced on two sides with large slabs which may represent the cist described by Falcon in 1905 as being 4ft long by 2ft wide. A ring of edge set stones around this cist is visible and may represent an internal kerb, which survives largely as a buried feature.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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