More information : The following summarised history of the interpretation of this
monument replaces the OS record, but includes and expands on
information therein. OS record cards are available in the NMR
archive.
[SK 2482 6313]: T55. This cairn ('55') is recorded on a location map
of numbered 'tumuli' (Heathcote 1936) approximately 140 yards (128m)
S of T56 (NAR No. SK 26 SW 19), which has been positively identified
in this RCHME survey, and adjacent to the E side of a N-S path that
crosses the moor. There is no documentary evidence of Heathcote
undertaking excavations here although there is clear ground evidence
to suggest that he did (see below); it seems probable that the
excavations probably took place sometime after 1938, as a note
published under the heading, "Excavations in Derbyshire, 1938"
records a variety of observations on mounds excavated up to that date
on Stanton Moor up to the numbered cairn T54; no mention is made of
higher numbered cairns apart from T61.
Although not conclusive, it is possible that this is one of the
barrows depicted as a circular mound on an 18th century plan of major
monuments on Stanton Moor by Major Hayman Rooke (Pegge 1787; barrow
number 7). That barrow number 7 is T55, is probably confirmed by
Pegges description of it being situated 260 paced yards (approx.
240m) from circle number 8; circle number 8 can be confidently
identified as T43 (NAR No. SK 26 SW 21) and the distance between the
two monuments closely correlates at 255m. As T55 is one of the most
substantial and easily identifiable cairns on Stanton Moor (as are
all the other features depicted on Rooke's plan), it seems highly
likely this is the one so depicted although its relationship with
barrow number 6 (probably T57 (NAR No. SK 26 SE 12)) owes something
to artistic licence. Unfortunately, no description or details of the
cairn are given.
At the publication of the first large scale Ordnance Survey 25" map
of this area in 1879, (surveyed 1877) a tumulus, depicted as a ring
bank, is indicated in open moorland at the position indicated for T55
on Heathcote's map. This portrayal as a ring bank probably reflects
a cratered or disturbed mound rather than a true ring bank monument.
The depiction of the monument remains unchanged at the publication of
the next edition of the map in 1898 although by then that part of
the moorland has been afforested with coniferous trees. On the
subsequent publication in 1922 , the area has been cleared of trees,
and has once again reverted to open moorland.
The first description of this cairn appears in 1962 when the Ordnance
Survey Archaeology Division were undertaking field investigation on
Stanton Moor; it is described as a "large cairn 15m in diameter and
1.3m high, intact apart from mutilation of the centre ..." (see OS
Record Card SK 26 SW 38). It is presumably this mutilation which is
depicted on the early OS maps. During compilation of the first
National Grid edition 25" map in 1966, the map depiction was
subsequently altered to represent a circular mound and published as
'Cairn'.
In a later, detailed study of monuments on Stanton Moor, this cairn
is noted as being possibly T55, and is described as a massive round
cairn, 15m diameter and 1.5m high, with a cleared kerb and a holed
top (Hart 1985; feature number 77). A further survey describes T55 as
having a large central hole, and ascribes the finding of an urn and
perforated jet or shale pendant to this cairn (Marsden 1986) although
it is almost certain these finds can be provenanced to the embanked
stone circle to the S (see T43; NAR No. SK 26 SW 21). In a more
recent survey, T55 is alleged to be one of a crude NNE/SSW line of
large ceremonial monuments across Stanton Moor, and is described as
being a large cairn, 16m diameter and over 1m high with a disturbed
centre and a small backfilled excavation trench (Barnatt 1986; cairn
51); the other monuments in this line being the ring cairn T61 (NAR
No. SK 26 SW 18), the Nine Ladies embanked stone circle (NAR No. SK
26 SW 15), ring cairn T56 (NAR No. SK 26 SW 19), burial cairn T2 (NAR
No. SK 26 SW 20) and lastly an alleged cairn (Barnatt 1986; cairn
53), although the latter is most likely a misinterpretation of a
natural knoll (see NAR No. SK 26 SW 162).
This monument is Scheduled (Derbyshire 42); it is classified as a
'Chambered Tumulus' and is ascribed a six figure NGR at SK 248 631.
The description below was produced following RCHME survey of
Stanton Moor in 1986-7.
SK 24820 63130: Cairn. Prominently situated on a gentle E facing
slope at 306m OD, with an extensive panorama to the N, E and S,
although with locally higher ground obscuring any outside aspect to
the W, are the disturbed remains of a substantial cairn which can be
confidently correlated with the cairn numbered '55' on Heathcote's
location map. The present cairn is circular in plan, averages 16.0m
in diameter and stands to a height of 1.3m, with a disturbance
related hollowing of its centre. Much of the fabric of the cairn is
exposed, showing a composition of mostly large and moderately sized
weatherworn stones, with only small areas being obscured by patches
of immature heather and bilberry. Defining the perimeter of the
present cairn, is a well- defined, almost continuous (apart from two
small sections - one at the N and one at the S (referred to later)),
narrow, sharp-sided trench averaging 0.4m in width and 0.2m in depth.
This is an excavation delineation trench dug by Heathcote during the
period of excavations on this monument. The digging of such
peripheral trenches in an attempt to locate or define a retaining
kerb on cairns (and which was apparently inherent to the Heathcote
excavation philosophy), is documented by J.P. Heathcote in the
excavation reports for T4 (NAR No. SK 26 SW 35) and T14 (NAR No.
formerly SK 26 SW 30 now SK 26 SW 137). Around the E and S arcs
particularly, but also at the N, this trench has exposed a number of
large, laid gritstones, many set end to end suggestive of a kerb or
ring feature. Similar exposed kerbing or ring features can be
observed in the closely analogous cairns T2 (NAR No. SK 26 SW 20) and
T57 (NAR No. SK 26 SE 12). The meandering nature of the trench,
rather than scribing a consistent arc, witnesses Heathcote's attempt
to follow or locate a kerb-like feature.
This similar delineation is evident on the excavated cairn T2 and it
can be shown here on T55 (as on T2), that the process of exposing the
kerb may possibly confuse the interpretation of the cairn morphology,
and that the original pre-excavation form of the monument was
probably of a larger diameter than that of the present cairn
contained within the trenching limits. The material removed from this
delineation trenching resides loosely outside the trench and appears
superficially as a low, bilberry covered concentric bank up to 3m
wide, similar to numerous other spoil banks surrounding Heathcote
excavations. This technique of spoil stacking is photographically
evidenced in the excavation report for T2 where also the levelling of
such spoil after excavation is documented. Upon closer inspection it
can be observed that the banking around the S arc opposite the
exposed kerbing or ring feature is higher, and with a greater stone
content than elsewhere, and also in profile that this is distinctly
separate from and overlies a slighter consolidated curving plinth
defining a consistently circular outline. This plinth, with its
outward facing scarp, almost certainly marks the original and
relatively undisturbed basal perimeter of the cairn, with spoil from
the Heathcote clearing spread onto it. A similar situation can be
unequivocally demonstrated on the SE arc of T2 where there is a clear
relationship between a documented excavated area and an unexcavated
area of the cairn, and also by analogy on cairn T57. Similar
occurrences produced by this excavation technique can be observed
also on a number of other monuments, notably T56. It seems possible,
therefore, that rather than the diameter of the cairn being 16m as
defined by the present mounding, that a diameter of some 18-20m would
be more representative of the original form. This outer perimeter is
untraceable around the W, where the cutting and wearing of a number
of historical paths, including the modern one, have encroached onto
the tangent of the mound.
As noted earlier, two gaps exist in the delineation trenching, one at
the N and one at the S. It is possible that the one at the N is not
a genuine break in the trenching, as this section is partially
obscured by turf and the rooting of a birch tree, but at the S a 1.8m
break is almost certainly genuine ('a' on plan). Here a large
coniferous tree root is in situ, and the profile from the natural
ground surface to the S appears unbroken up to the present rim of the
cairn. By analogy with other cairns on Stanton Moor where tree roots
still exist in situ, as well as correlation with documented
excavations, particularly T2, where the removal of such tree roots is
documented, it can be assumed that this section has been deliberately
left unexcavated by the Heathcotes; on either side of this area is an
exposed large kerb or stone. The reason for this leaving this gap is
unclear but it is known a small section of the covering of the kerb
on T2 was deliberately left intact to illustrate "how the circles
were covered and also how the different strata were arranged"
(Heathcote 1930) and it is possible that a similar philosophy was
adopted here.
As mentioned earlier, one of the dominant features of the present
cairn is the central hollowing which covers an area some 10m in
diameter. It seems probable, considering the size and accessibility
of this cairn, that the majority of this has been caused by a
combination of antiquarian delving and robbing before the Heathcote
excavations of the 1930's. The Heathcote's attentions within the body
of the mound appear to have been fairly limited, and confined to
stripping back areas of the surface inwards from their exposed 'kerb'
('b', 'c,' 'd' on plan). These areas are now visible as low, surface
stone free, bilberry covered 'berm-like' areas, and mostly have
clearly defined boundaries. Whether any material, and how much, was
removed from the surface before and resulting from these excavations
cannot now be judged, although the evidence for a wider diameter
(presented earlier) suggests some amount has been.
At the E ('e' on plan), is an almost rectangular cairn of
unconsolidated stone measuring 4.2m EW x 2.0m NS, lying upon the
general cairn surface, and with all the appearances of having been
deliberately built; this may be attributable to Heathcote although
this is uncertain. This lies to the S of, and almost parallel to,
what appears to be a backfilled excavation trench 1.0m wide ('f' on
plan), oriented NE-SW within the NE quadrant of the cairn. This
trench appears to have been cut into the body of the cairn,
terminating at the centre. It appears to cut through much of the
material which has been cast up from the interior crater and
therefore post-dates these delves; it has a relatively modern
appearance. This is presumably the trench noted by Barnatt. There is
no evidence to indicate whether this forms part of the Heathcote
investigations. Further examples of radial trenching are possible at
('g), ('h') and ('i') on plan, all of which can be tentatively
interpreted to post-date the central hollowing, and which in turn are
post-dated by the Heathcote delineation trench; no evidence has been
found to attribute any of these trenches to a particular excavator.
Within the central hollowing, particularly at the N and E, ('j' and
'k' on plan), sharp-edged concentrations of stone possibly mark
inwardly collapsed excavation sections into the mound interior. Other
scarps and changes in levels suggest activities more organised than
simple stone robbing and, and probably all indicate a long history of
archaeological delving. Despite the apparent high level of
interference on this cairn, it would appear that only a small
proportion may be attributable to the Heathcote excavations. The
disturbances, including the Heathcote excavations, although appearing
drastic, appear to have left much of the underbody of the cairn
intact, although less so than the closely analogous cairn T57 (NAR
No. SK 26 SE 12) to the NE.
Although no stone bearing an inscribed 'tumulus' number (which often
accompanies a Heathcote excavation) has been located, the position of
this monument (128m S) in relationship to T56 (NAR No. SK 26 SW 19),
exactly as indicated on Heathcote's location map, together with the
evidence of Heathcote excavations, would clearly indicate this
monument is T55.
The size of T55, its substantial form, topographic situation, and
evidence of similarly laid, substantial kerb or ring features,
suggest a close, analogous morphological relationship with cairns T2
(NAR No. SK 26 SW 20) and T57 (NAR No. SK 26 SE 12). The documented
excavations on T2 have demonstrated that cairn to be a complex,
possibly multi-phase burial monument with some food-vessel
associations, and it is wholly conceivable a similar complex monument
may be represented in T55. (1-1k) |