Re: Possible Cairn? | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Elterwater Common 1

Possible Cairn?

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wolfnighthunter Aug 17, 2005 08:03:14

Replying to FourWinds

To the front of the stones there seems to be a type of structure built using the large front stone as part of it construction, ie it looks like a reusing of something that was there as part of a new structure. if the land was used for grazing purposes, a shepherd may have build a keep and used the stones in that construction. Not much left of the remains of the newer structure from what could be seen, part of a small wall is all that is left.

Hob Aug 17, 2005 17:01:49

Replying to wolfnighthunter

I think the 're-use as a sheiling' idea could explain why, if this is a prehistoric thing, it has been ignored.

Now I wouldn't know the remains of a chambered cairn from a random pile of rocks, but the upright stone does look a bit too big to be the kind of thing you'd expect to see in a sheiling, and the position at Elterwater is a prime spot due to it's commanding the approach to Langdale.

It would have been just the place to bung your prestiege monument if you wanted to make a statement about whose ancestors had dibs on the axe stone.