Details

The monument includes a prehistoric cairnfield and associated field system
located on the northern slopes of Pike How, 650m west of High Ground. It
represents Bronze Age exploitation of this landscape. The cairnfield includes
three circular and oval-shaped clearance cairns measuring up to 0.5m high. The
circular cairns measure between 5.5m to 5.9m in diameter while the oval-shaped
cairn measures 5.5m long by 4.4m wide. The field system associated with the
cairnfield includes two sub-circular stone-walled enclosures; the larger is
approximately 50m in diameter, the smaller is roughly oval in plan and
measures about 20m by 30m. Nearby are six lengths of stone wall or bank
considered to be old field boundaries. Five of these banks run downslope and
one runs across the slope virtually following the contour.

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

The Cumbrian uplands comprise large areas of remote mountainous terrain, much
of which is largely open fellside. As a result of archaeological surveys
between 1980 and 1990 within the Lake District National Park, these fells have
become one of the best recorded upland areas in England. On the open fells
there is sufficient well preserved and understood evidence over extensive
areas for human exploitation of these uplands from the Neolithic to the post-
medieval period. On the enclosed land and within forestry the archaeological
remains are fragmentary, but they survive sufficiently well to show that human
activity extended beyond the confines of the open fells. Bronze Age activity
accounts for the most extensive use of the area, and evidence for it includes
some of the largest and best preserved field systems and cairn fields in
England, as well as settlement sites, numerous burial monuments, stone circles
and other ceremonial remains. Taken together, their remains can provide a
detailed insight into life in the later prehistoric period. Of additional
importance is the well-preserved and often visible relationship between the
remains of earlier and later periods, since this provides an understanding of
changes in land use through time. Because of their rarity in a national
context, excellent state of preservation and inter-connections, most
prehistoric monuments on the Lake District fells will be identified as
nationally important.

The prehistoric cairnfield and associated field system north of Pike How, 650m
west of High Ground survives well and forms part of a large area of
well-preserved prehistoric landscape extending along the fellsides of south
west Cumbria. In conjunction with a wide range of other prehistoric remains in
the vicinity the monument represents evidence of long term management and
exploitation of this area in prehistoric times.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Leech, R, Birkby Fell Survey Catalogue, (1982)
Leech, R, Birkby Fell Survey Catalogue, (1982)
Quartermaine, J, Leech, R H, Upland Settlement of the Lake District: Result of Recent Surveys, (1997), 60-73
Quartermaine, J, Leech, R H, Upland Settlement of the Lake District: Result of Recent Surveys, (1997), 60-73

Source: Historic England