Ancient Monuments

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Cairn 570m east-north-east of Wittondean Farm

A Scheduled Monument in Whitton and Tosson, Northumberland

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Coordinates

Latitude: 55.2945 / 55°17'40"N

Longitude: -1.9069 / 1°54'24"W

OS Eastings: 406009.21504

OS Northings: 600047.054291

OS Grid: NU060000

Mapcode National: GBR H736.YW

Mapcode Global: WHB0X.P640

Entry Name: Cairn 570m east-north-east of Wittondean Farm

Scheduled Date: 25 February 1993

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1008699

English Heritage Legacy ID: 20890

County: Northumberland

Civil Parish: Whitton and Tosson

Traditional County: Northumberland

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Northumberland

Church of England Parish: Upper Coquetdale

Church of England Diocese: Newcastle

Details

The monument includes a cairn of Bronze Age date situated near the top of a
north facing slope. The cairn survives to a maximum height of 0.9m and
measures 12m in diameter. The mound is constructed of stone and earth; traces
of several large stones around its edge represent the remains of a retaining
circle.

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.

Despite being truncated on its southern side, this cairn survives well and it
retains archaeological deposits relating to the construction of the cairn and
the nature and duration of its use. Additionally, it is one of a group of
Prehistoric monuments which survive on this area of moorland and it will
contribute to our understanding of Prehistoric settlement and activity in the
area.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
No. 2341,

Source: Historic England

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