Scheduled Monument: ROUND CAIRN 275M SOUTH EAST OF HOB HURST'S HOUSE (1020088)

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 as 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. These burials were 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 275m south east of Hob Hurst's House remains intact and will contain undisturbed funerary deposits. The monument is also important because of its position in the landscape, being associated with several nearby funerary cairns and overlooking a cairnfield to the north. DETAILS The monument includes a prehistoric cairn standing in open moorland close to the escarpment of Harland Edge. The cairn is associated with contemporary funerary remains within the surrounding area. The cairn comprises a low gritstone mound occupying gently sloping ground to the north of Harland Edge. This location provides extensive views to the north over Brampton East Moor and in the direction of Wadshelf. The location of three nearby contemporary funerary cairns and a cairnfield 1km to the north west are visible from the monument. The cairn measures 1.5m by 2m and stands 0.3m high. There are no signs of disturbance to the monument indicating that it has avoided damage through antiquarian excavation or quarrying. The size and location of the monument indicate that it is funerary in function and Bronze Age in date. As an undisturbed example of a round cairn, the monument is likely to contain intact funerary deposits. The cairn represents a ceremonial site that, taken in conjunction with nearby contemporary funerary and agricultural monuments, provides substantial evidence for the settlement and ceremonial use of the surrounding area during the Bronze Age. Other prehistoric mouments on the moor are protected separately. SELECTED SOURCES Map Reference - Author: Barnatt, J W - Title: Chatsworth Estate Historic Landscape Survey Chatsworth Moorlands - Date: 1998 - Page References: area 16 - Type: PLAN: MEASURED - Description: Survey plan Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, JW - Title: The Chatsworth Estate Historic Landscape Survey (Moorlands) - Date: 1998 - Page References: area 18 Book Reference - Author: Barnatt, JW - Title: The Chatsworth Estate Historic Landscape Survey (Moorlands) - Date: 1998 - Page References: 100-112