Scheduled Monument: ROUND CAIRN BETWEEN COOMBES EDGE AND COWN EDGE (1009048)

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION 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 cairn between Coombes Edge and Cown Edge is a reasonably well preserved example which, although somewhat disturbed by stone-getting, retains substantial intact archaeological remains and is associated with other important Bronze Age features. DETAILS The monument is located in the north west fringes of the western gritstone moorlands of the Peak District and is prominently situated near the head of a discrete gritstone spur, sandwiched between Coombes Edge to the north west and Cown Edge to the south east. It includes a sub-circular grass-covered gritstone cairn measuring 13m by 10m by 1.5m high which has suffered some surface disturbance due to the activities of Enclosure period stone-getters. Although it has not been excavated, its form, location and similarity to other monuments of this class date it to the Bronze Age. In addition, it is associated with the only Bronze Age cairnfield so far identified on the western gritstone uplands. Although this cairnfield is also of substantial archaeological importance, it has not been fully surveyed and its extent is not sufficiently understood for it to be included in the scheduling at this time. SELECTED SOURCES Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, J - Title: The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989) - Date: 1989 Unpublished Title Reference - Author: Barnatt, J W - Title: Peak District Barrow Survey - Date: 1989 - Description: unpublished survey