Details

The monument includes a prehistoric round cairn standing close to the edge of
a ridgetop directly south of Miller's Dale. The cairn comprises a turf-covered
mound of limestone, occupying fairly level ground within an area of unimproved
grassland. This location provides extensive views in all directions.

The cairn measures 5.5m by 4.5m and stands 0.3m high, appearing well-defined
and carefully constructed. There are no signs of disturbance to the surface of
the cairn indicating that the monument has avoided damage through antiquarian
excavation or quarrying. The size and location of the cairn indicate that it
is Bronze Age in date and funerary in function.

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.

The round cairn 460m north of New Barn is particularly important as a rare
example of an undisturbed funerary monument. Additionally, small round cairns
are uncommon upon the limestone plateau. The intact deposits within the
monument are potentially of great value in understanding both the Bronze Age
funerary rituals of this region and the society that practised them.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Barnatt, J W, Priestcliffe Lees nature reserve Archaeological survey 1993, (1993), 1,3
Other
Barnatt, J W, Peak District Barrow Survey, 1989, unpublished survey
Barnatt, J W, Peak District Barrow Survey, 1989, unpublished survey

Source: Historic England