Details

The monument comprises a large circular embanked funerary cairn, part of a
linear cairn group near the summit of Caradon Hill on SE Bodmin Moor.
The cairn survives as a circular bank of small stones, 19m in external
diameter, 2-3m wide and 0.5m high, encircling a central mound, 12m in diameter
and up to 1.5m high, composed of medium to large stones. Around the S and SW
sectors of the central mound's edge are a row of end-set, inward-sloping,
large slabs surviving from a retaining kerb. The surface of the central mound
shows a number of hollows from stone-robbers, whose spoil has been dumped
largely over the N and NE sectors of the cairn, filling the space between the
mound and outer bank in that area. The same activities are responsible for a
pit in the NE part of the mound, exposing a large natural boulder in its base;
this pit is the only disturbance to reach a significant depth into the body of
the cairn, and is off-centre and restricted in extent; consequently it is
considered that any primary funerary deposits at the centre of this monument,
and secondary deposits made in most other areas, will survive intact, together
with the old land surface on which the monument was constructed. This cairn
appears on the 1907 OS map, and has been surveyed on several occasions since
then, but has not been subject to archaeological excavation. It lies near the
summit of Caradon Hill, at the N end of a linear cairn group which extends to
the SW across the hill's summit and contains ten recorded cairns of several
types typical of the Early to Middle Bronze Age (c.2000 - 1000 BC).

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

Bodmin Moor, the largest of the Cornish granite uplands, has long been
recognised to have exceptional preservation of archaeological remains. The
quality and diversity of the evidence is such that the moor has been the
subject of detailed archaeological survey and hence it forms one of the best
recorded upland landscapes in England. Of particular note are the extensive
relict landscapes of Prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval date. Together
these provide direct evidence for human exploitation of the moor from the
earliest Prehistoric period onwards. The well-preserved and often visible
relationship between settlement sites, field systems, ceremonial and funerary
monuments as well as later industrial remains provides significant insights
into successive changes in the pattern of land use through time.
Banked cairns are funerary monuments dating to the Early Bronze Age
(c.2000-1600 BC), covering single or multiple burials. They comprise a
circular bank of stone rubble, up to 30m in external diameter and sometimes
accompanied by an internal ditch, surrounding a central mound of earth and
rubble. A kerb of edge-set stones sometimes bounds the edges of the bank or
mound or both. They can occur as isolated monuments, in small groups or in
cairn cemeteries. The burials, either inhumations or cremations, can occur in
small pits or in box-like structures of stone slabs called cists either dug
into the mound or set into the old land surface. Along with other funerary
monuments, they illustrate the diversity of beliefs and burial practices
in the Bronze Age. Although no precise figure is available, current evidence
indicates that there are under 250 known examples of this monument class
nationally. As a rare class exhibiting considerable variation in form, a
substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
preservation. This banked cairn on Caradon Hill displays a good range of
surviving component features and has never been excavated. Its importance is
enhanced by its position within a cairn group containing a variety of
different types of burial cairn, demonstrating well the diversity of burial
practice during the Bronze Age.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
3/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1409.04 and .12,
AM 7 scheduling documentation and maplet for CO 541e, Consulted 3/1991
Consulted 3/1991, Carter, A/RCHME, 1:2500 Air Photo Transcripton: SX 2770 (Consulted 3/1991),
Consulted 3/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1409.08,
Consulted 3/1991, Cornwall SMR entry for PRN 1409.10,
Title: Ordnance Survey 6": 1 mile Map: Cornwall XXVIII NW
Source Date: 1907
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:

Source: Historic England