Scheduled Monument: CAIRN ON BAMFORD EDGE, 500M NORTH EAST OF MOOREDGE (1018083)

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION The East Moors in Derbyshire includes all the gritstone moors east of the River Derwent. It covers an area of 105 sq. km, of which around 63% is open moorland and 37% is enclosed. As a result of recent and on-going archaeological survey, the East Moors area is becoming one of the best recorded upland areas in England. On the enclosed land the archaeological remains are fragmentary, but survive sufficiently well to show that early human activity extended beyond the confines of the open moors. On the open moors there is significant and well-articulated evidence over extensive areas for human exploitation of the gritstone uplands from the Neolithic to the post-medieval periods. Bronze Age activity accounts for the most intensive use of the moorlands. Evidence for it includes some of the largest and best preserved field systems and cairnfields in northern England as well settlement sites, numerous burial monuments, stone circles and other ceremonial remains which, together, provide a detailed insight into life in the Bronze Age. Also of importance is the well preserved and often visible relationship between the remains of earlier and later periods since this provides an insight into successive changes in land use through time. A large number of the prehistoric sites on the moors, because of their rarity in a national context, excellent state of preservation and inter-connections, will be identified as nationally important. 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. In some cases, cairns often occupy prominent locations and are a major visual element in the modern landscape. They are a relatively common feature in the uplands of Britain 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 prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of the surviving examples are considered worthy of protection. The cairn 500m north east of Mooredge, although robbed of some stone, will contain buried remains below ground and within the surviving structure providing much information on its function and construction. DETAILS The monument includes the remains of a large cairn about 10m east of the Millstone Grit escarpment known as Bamford Edge, overlooking the upper Derwent valley. The cairn is dated to the Bronze Age and its size, position and relative isolation indicate that the structure was used for funerary purposes. There is evidence for Bronze Age settlement and agriculture nearby. The cairn measures approximately 20m in diameter and appears to have been extensively robbed at its western side and centre. It now consists of a substantial sub-circular stony embankment up to 0.6m high to the north, east and south with part missing on the western side. The monument is interpreted as a partially robbed cairn of relatively large size, indicative of a funerary structure. Such large funerary cairns often occupy panoramic locations as in this example, overlooking the Derwent valley and moorlands beyond. At the south western end of the monument is a small cairn of stones, overlying the embankment. The function of this is uncertain: it could have been the product of a later disturbance, but may be part of the original composition of the cairn, indicating a secondary burial. SELECTED SOURCES Unpublished Title Reference - Author: Barnatt, J W - Title: Peak District Barrow Survey - Date: 1989 - Page References: 28:3 - Description: unpublished survey Article Reference - Author: Barnatt, J. W. - Title: Bronze Age Remains on the East Moors of Derbyshire - Date: 1986 - Journal Title: Derbyshire Archaeological journal - Volume: 106 - Page References: 25-6 - Type: DESC TEXT