Details

The monument includes a carved gritstone rock and two small cairns, one to
either side of the rock. They are situated in Middleton Moor Enclosure, on a
rise east of the path, 180m ESE of the shooting shelter.
The rock (NGR 11749 52034) is of coarse gritstone and measures 0.75m by 0.75m
by 0.15m. The carving consists of one large cup mark at the north corner.
The cairn west (NGR SE 11746 52026) of the carved rock is oval, 4m by 5m, and
0.6m high.
The cairn east (NGR SE 11755 52033) of the carved rock has an amorphous shape,
c.3m by c.2.5m, and is 0.4m high.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

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.

Prehistoric rock carving is found on natural boulders and rock outcrops in
many areas of upland Britain. It is especially common in the north of England
in Northumberland, Durham, and North and West Yorkshire. The most common form
of decoration is the `cup' marking, where small cup-like hollows are worked
into the surface of the rock. These cups may be surrounded by one or more
`rings'. Single pecked lines extending from the cup through the rings may also
exist, providing the design with a `tail'. Other shapes and patterns also
occur but are less frequent. Carvings may occur singly, in small groups, or
may cover extensive areas of rock surface. They date to the Late Neolithic and
Bronze Age periods (2800-c.500 BC) and provide one our most important insights
into prehistoric `art'. The exact meaning of the designs remains unknown, but
they may be interpreted as sacred or religious symbols. All positively
identified prehistoric rock carvings sites will normally be identified as
nationally important.
The carving on this rock survives well. The two cairns are only slightly
disturbed, and will retain evidence of their original form and of any burials
placed within them. Together the cairns and the carved rock form part of the
prehistoric landscape of Middleton Moor.

Source: Historic England