Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Midfell round cairn

A Scheduled Monument in Kielder, Northumberland

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 55.2786 / 55°16'42"N

Longitude: -2.5739 / 2°34'25"W

OS Eastings: 363642.434191

OS Northings: 598418.825752

OS Grid: NY636984

Mapcode National: GBR B7GD.KL

Mapcode Global: WH8ZG.FLL7

Entry Name: Midfell round cairn

Scheduled Date: 20 June 1973

Last Amended: 15 November 1994

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1009668

English Heritage Legacy ID: 25108

County: Northumberland

Civil Parish: Kielder

Traditional County: Northumberland

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Northumberland

Church of England Parish: Falstone with Greystead and Thorneyburn

Church of England Diocese: Newcastle

Details

The monument includes the remains of a substantial round cairn of prehistoric
date situated high on the summit of Midfell. It commands extensive views in
all directions. It is composed of large angular stones and measures 14.5m in
diameter amd stands to a maximum height of 2.2m. The central area of the cairn
has been rearranged to form a small rectangular sheep pen but the lower
courses of the cairn material are undisturbed.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Round cairns are prehistoric funerary monuments dating to the Bronze Age
(c.2000-700 BC). They were constructed as stone mounds covering single or
multiple burials. These burials may be placed within the mound in stone-lined
compartments called cists. In some cases the cairn was surrounded by a ditch.
Often occupying prominent locations, cairns are a major visual element in the
modern landscape. They are a relatively common feature of the uplands and are
the stone equivalent of the earthen round barrows of the lowlands. Their
considerable variation in form and longevity as a monument type provide
important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisation
amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of
their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered
worthy of protection.

Despite the fact that the stones have been rearranged, the round cairn on
Midfell survives reasonably well and contains significant archaeological
deposits.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
NY 69 NW 01,

Source: Historic England

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.