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Two adjacent ring cairns on Low Moor, 310m north west of High Eskeleth

A Scheduled Monument in Arkengarthdale, North Yorkshire

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Coordinates

Latitude: 54.4347 / 54°26'4"N

Longitude: -2.0101 / 2°0'36"W

OS Eastings: 399443.96869

OS Northings: 504363.001396

OS Grid: NY994043

Mapcode National: GBR GKD5.M1

Mapcode Global: WHB4Y.3S3N

Entry Name: Two adjacent ring cairns on Low Moor, 310m north west of High Eskeleth

Scheduled Date: 7 June 2000

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1012614

English Heritage Legacy ID: 24541

County: North Yorkshire

Civil Parish: Arkengarthdale

Traditional County: Yorkshire

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): North Yorkshire

Details

The monument includes two adjacent ring cairns are situated on a south west
facing slope overlooking the lower reaches of Arkengarthdale. The larger of
the two has a diameter of 11.5m. It includes a well defined circular bank 2m
wide and up to 0.3m high consisting of loose exposed stones.
The second ring cairn is situated 2m to the south west of the first on a
gentle slope. It includes a circular bank, less clearly visible than the
adjacent monument but still well defined in the form of a ring of loose stones
up to 0.3m high and with a overall diameter of 10.5m.

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

A ring cairn is a prehistoric ritual monument comprising a circular bank of
stones up to 20m in diameter surrounding a hollow central area. The bank may
be kerbed on the inside, and sometimes on the outside as well, with small
uprights or laid boulders. Ring cairns are found mainly in upland areas of
England and are mostly discovered and authenticated by fieldwork and ground
level survey, although a few are large enough to be visible on aerial
photographs. They often occur in pairs or small groups of up to four examples.
Occasionally they lie within round barrow cemeteries. Ring cairns are
interpreted as ritual monuments of Early and Middle Bronze Age date. The exact
nature of the rituals concerned is not fully understood, but excavation has
revealed pits, some containing burials and others containing charcoal and
pottery, taken to indicate feasting activities associated with the burial
rituals. Many areas of upland have not yet been surveyed in detail and the
number of ring cairns in England is not accurately known. However, available
evidence indicates a population of between 250 and 500 examples. As a
relatively rare class of monument exhibiting considerable variation in form,
all positively identified examples retaining significant archaeological
deposits are considered worthy of preservation.

The two ring cairns on Low Moor, 310m north west of High Eskeleth survive
reasonably well, containing further archaeological remains; information on
their relationship will be preserved.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Laurie, T, (1993)
Laurie, T, (1993)

Source: Historic England

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