| Print | More

MONUMENT NO. 43440

ABOUT THIS MONUMENT

+ / -

EH Visitor Information
Related Monuments
Related Text
Investigation History

More Pictures
Modern Map
Old Map
Aerial Photograph

Monument Types
Sources
Thesaurus
Description

DESCRIPTION

+ / -

Bronze Age composite round cairn surviving as a mutilated structure. Excavation revealed a complex form incorporating layers of turf and vegetation, the pollen from which dated to 1600-1400BC.

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

SD 65581499. Tumulus (NR) (1)

After preliminary investigations by Chorley Archaeological
Society in 1957,excavations by Bu'Lock in 1958 on a composite cairn
on Winter Hill revealed traces of an even earlier excavation of
which no known record exists.

Before excavation the site was apparent as a low earth dome with
some loose stones. On the Southern side there was little
superincumbent peat and a quadrant of the kerb was exposed.
Excavations and probing beyond the kerb revealed no trace of a
ditch.

The structure, which was remarkably well preserved, consisted
of a central cairn (about 8ft diameter and perhaps 5ft high) with a
continuous low outer wall (about 60ft diameter and 12 to 18 inches high). The intervening space was filled first with "fresh greenery"
(several inches thick), large inverted turfs (mainly centrally)and
finally (mainly peripherally) with tipped loads of subsoil. Peat
eventually submerged the kerb and its lower verges.

In the absence of a central burial or of portable finds,
constructional and ritual features, and pollen analyses suggest a
likely date of about 1600 to 1400 BC, an early phase of local
Bronze Age. (2)

SD 65601499. A tumulus of earth and stone, earth predominating,
situated on the western flank of Winter Hill approximately 1450 feet
above sea level upon open moorland.

The mound has been badly mutilated on the south and east face
and a retaining circle of stone boulders is visible in these
faces. The spoil from the excavation appears to have been cast
inward.

The centre of the tumulus appears to have been robbed at some
early date.

Overall diameter 19.2m maximum height 0.6m. No visible ditch.
(3)

This cairn has been so mutilated by excavation that it is
no longer recognisable as such. Approximately 12.0m of the
outer wall (or kerb) is visible in the SE perimeter but the
remainder of the cairn is covered by peat, rough grass and stone
rubble. (4)

SD 6558 1500. Round cairn on Winter Hill. Scheduled RSM No 23709.
A circular earth and stone mound up to 0.3m high and 19.2m in
diameter. (5)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) General reference

OS 1:2500 1959

( 2) General reference

T Lancs & Ches AS 70 1960 66-73 illust (JD Bu'Lock, CEP Rosser & GW Dimbleby)

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 FDC 15-MAY-58

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F2 ISS 12-FEB-76

(5) General reference

English Heritage Scheduling Amendment 20/8/94

MONUMENT TYPES

+ / -

COMMENTS

+ / -

Please help us keep our information accurate let us know if you see any errors on this page.

Further information about monuments may be obtained by contacting NMR Enquiry and Research Services , through the English Heritage website.

EH Archives
EH Prints
English Heritage
Heritage Explorer
Heritage Gateway
Images of England
National Heritage List for England
English Heritage Archive
ViewFinder