Latest Miscellany

Two cairns near the edge of Curbar Edge. Descriptions from Heritage Gateway:

Curbar Edge NW (SK 2548 7560)

18m in diameter and 1m high, hollowed out as a result of excavation 24.4.1913 by the gamekeeper Mr. E. Peat and the Marquis of Granby who found a bronze knife-dagger, burnt bones, a food vessel, flint thumb scraper and a central cist of large slabs.

Curbar Edge SE (SK 2589 7509)

The monument is prominently located 50m from the edge towards its southern end and includes a roughly circular heather-covered gritstone cairn with a diameter of c.12m and a height of c.1.2m. Although the monument has not been excavated, its form and location, together with its proximity to other prehistoric remains, indicate a Bronze Age date.

Canmore ID 37386 (go to Links) estimates the girth of the stone to be 3m at the base, girth being the distance round the perimeter of an object.
Although I didn’t measure this on my visit the estimate seems reasonable to me.

Directions to Arthur’s Bed

From N: The B3254 heads S off the A30 at Launceton. Take the first left for B3254 St Petherwin at the first roundabout. Stay on the B3254 for c. 7 miles. Cross the Lynher river into Berriow Bridge. There is an unsigned dead-end lane turning R at the end of the narrow bridge . Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

From S: From A38 take the A390 Liskeard exit. Follow All Routes B3254 into Liskeard. The B3254 becomes Pound St. Take the second exit R for All other routes at the roundabout, avoiding the Town Centre. Take the first L for B3254 Pensilva/St Cleer at the double roundabout. Follow the B3254 for c. 8 miles to reach Berriow Bridge. At the N end of Berriow Bridge there is an unsigned dead-end lane turning L just before the narrow bridge over the Lynher River. Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

Twelve Men’s Moor starts here. There are many sites to be explored from here: They include Cairns, a Cist, the Pyramid Stone and a Settlement on Twelve Men’s Moor, an unusual Stone Row on Hawk’s Tor Summit and Arthur’s Bed on Trewortha Tor, all in a square kilometre.

Directions to Twelve Men’s Moor

From N: The B3254 heads S off the A30 at Launceton. Take the first left for B3254 St Petherwin at the first roundabout. Stay on the B3254 for c. 7 miles. Cross the Lynher river into Berriow Bridge. There is an unsigned dead-end lane turning R at the end of the narrow bridge . Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

From S: From A38 take the A390 Liskeard exit. Follow All Routes B3254 into Liskeard. The B3254 becomes Pound St. Take the second exit R for All other routes at the roundabout, avoiding the Town Centre. Take the first L for B3254 Pensilva/St Cleer at the double roundabout. Follow the B3254 for c. 8 miles to reach Berriow Bridge. At the N end of Berriow Bridge there is an unsigned dead-end lane turning L just before the narrow bridge over the Lynher River. Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

Twelve Men’s Moor starts here. There are many sites to be explored from here: They include Cairns, a Cist, the Pyramid Stone and a Settlement on Twelve Men’s Moor, an unusual Stone Row on Hawk’s Tor Summit and Arthur’s Bed on Trewortha Tor, all in a square kilometre.

Directions to Hawk’s Tor

From N: The B3254 heads S off the A30 at Launceton. Take the first left for B3254 St Petherwin at the first roundabout. Stay on the B3254 for c. 7 miles. Cross the Lynher river into Berriow Bridge. There is an unsigned dead-end lane turning R at the end of the narrow bridge . Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

From S: From A38 take the A390 Liskeard exit. Follow All Routes B3254 into Liskeard. The B3254 becomes Pound St. Take the second exit R for All other routes at the roundabout, avoiding the Town Centre. Take the first L for B3254 Pensilva/St Cleer at the double roundabout. Follow the B3254 for c. 8 miles to reach Berriow Bridge. At the N end of Berriow Bridge there is an unsigned dead-end lane turning L just before the narrow bridge over the Lynher River. Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

Twelve Men’s Moor starts here. There are many sites to be explored from here: They include Cairns, a Cist, the Pyramid Stone and a Settlement on Twelve Men’s Moor, an unusual Stone Row on Hawk’s Tor Summit and Arthur’s Bed on Trewortha Tor, all in a square kilometre.

Directions to Kilmar Quoit

From N: The B3254 heads S off the A30 at Launceton. Take the first left for B3254 St Petherwin at the first roundabout. Stay on the B3254 for c. 7 miles. Cross the Lynher river into Berriow Bridge. There is an unsigned dead-end lane turning R at the end of the narrow bridge . Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

From S: From A38 take the A390 Liskeard exit. Follow All Routes B3254 into Liskeard. The B3254 becomes Pound St. Take the second exit R for All other routes at the roundabout, avoiding the Town Centre. Take the first L for B3254 Pensilva/St Cleer at the double roundabout. Follow the B3254 for c. 8 miles to reach Berriow Bridge. At the N end of Berriow Bridge there is an unsigned dead-end lane turning L just before the narrow bridge over the Lynher River. Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

Twelve Men’s Moor starts here. There are many sites to be explored from here: They include Cairns, a Cist, the Pyramid Stone and a Settlement on Twelve Men’s Moor, an unusual Stone Row on Hawk’s Tor Summit and Arthur’s Bed on Trewortha Tor, all in a square kilometre.

Directions to Twelve Men’s cist

From N: The B3254 heads S off the A30 at Launceton. Take the first left for B3254 St Petherwin at the first roundabout. Stay on the B3254 for c. 7 miles. Cross the Lynher river into Berriow Bridge. There is an unsigned dead-end lane turning R at the end of the narrow bridge . Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

From S: From A38 take the A390 Liskeard exit. Follow All Routes B3254 into Liskeard. The B3254 becomes Pound St. Take the second exit R for All other routes at the roundabout, avoiding the Town Centre. Take the first L for B3254 Pensilva/St Cleer at the double roundabout. Follow the B3254 for c. 8 miles to reach Berriow Bridge. At the N end of Berriow Bridge there is an unsigned dead-end lane turning L just before the narrow bridge over the Lynher River. Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

Twelve Men’s Moor starts here. There are many sites to be explored from here: They include Cairns, a Cist, the Pyramid Stone and a Settlement on Twelve Men’s Moor, an unusual Stone Row on Hawk’s Tor Summit and Arthur’s Bed on Trewortha Tor, all in a square kilometre.

Directions to Pyramid Stone

From N: The B3254 heads S off the A30 at Launceton. Take the first left for B3254 St Petherwin at the first roundabout. Stay on the B3254 for c. 7 miles. Cross the Lynher river into Berriow Bridge. There is an unsigned dead-end lane turning R at the end of the narrow bridge . Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

From S: From A38 take the A390 Liskeard exit. Follow All Routes B3254 into Liskeard. The B3254 becomes Pound St. Take the second exit R for All other routes at the roundabout, avoiding the Town Centre. Take the first L for B3254 Pensilva/St Cleer at the double roundabout. Follow the B3254 for c. 8 miles to reach Berriow Bridge. At the N end of Berriow Bridge there is an unsigned dead-end lane turning L just before the narrow bridge over the Lynher River. Follow this track uphill for c. 1.25 miles to reach a Car Park at a cattle grid at the end of the public road.

Twelve Men’s Moor starts here. There are many sites to be explored from here: They include Cairns, a Cist, the Pyramid Stone and a Settlement on Twelve Men’s Moor, an unusual Stone Row on Hawk’s Tor Summit and Arthur’s Bed on Trewortha Tor, all in a square kilometre.

Having just found this entry on 29.03.21 I was investigating the Canmore page. Martin’s cup marks were noted in 2005 in an update. There are many other details available including 8 bronze age burials found nearby. Go to Links for Canmore ID 53054.

On the Ness of Brodgar website, in the first of Sigurd Towrie’s article on long cairns, one such is suggested as possiby being one on Outer Holm. There is a long low hillock next to the circular remains of a mill mound, but a look on Bing Satellite holds out little hope, all I see is a few very linear features on the ‘site’ – pity as I often photograph the place.

Visited 26.05.12

Pebblesfromheaven impression of a long long cairn turns out to be true!

According to survey work carried out in 1993 by RCAHMS (see details in Canmore ID 67899 in Links) the two separate cairns at Windy Edge should be regarded as one long cairn measuring c. 75m on a WNW-ESE axis. They found an underlying stone layer in the gap between the cairns by probing the ground. The missing centre of the long cairn may be explained by traces of peat cutting in this area.

The Wells of the Rees are three springs, long since dried up, located within the ruins of Killgallioch Church. It is signposted off the New Luce to Bargrennan stage of the Southern Upland Way. If you park in the layby short of Balmurrie farm it is at least a 5 mile walk to the Well of the Rees. Of course there are Cairn na Gath, the Beehive Bothy and Laggangarn Stones to visit in between, so at 2.5 miles walked per site visited it is good value.

Visited 16.03.14

On the SW edge of Hendra Downs there is a pair of earthbound stones in a corner of a field c. 200 yards NW of Trezelland Farm. The stones are set like a portal, broad sides facing one another on a low mound They are around 3.5 feet high with a 3 feet gap between them. Several smaller stones are exposed above the grass in the gap. The stones look more like structural remnants of a cairn than a pair of standing stones.

described in the Orkney Name Book as mostly a raised earth and stone grass-covered mound [forming the northen end and ~25’D by 3’ high] at the no, the remains of a Danish fort/castle (as they thought) . It is an uneven patch of ground approx. 100x50 yards with many irregular stony mounds that a recent survey think represents a substantial structure having seaward an enclosed yard (they also found a smaller mound landward of the structure’s remains). RCAHMS described it as a 3m high N/S platform some 54x30m, and parallel to the coast, whose mostly level top rises slightly to the edges. To its seaward side bone pins were found in an area on the order of 50x10m that is enclosed by a curvilinear bank. The recent survey describes the structure as an irregular mound bounded by the yard (which goes all the way to the eroding coastline). The yard’s north and south sides are formed by irregular earthen banks coming from the proposed structure’s NW and SW corners.
At present it is proposed that this is a funerary or ritual site. In which case I think it could relate to the scant remains of a large disc barrow on the hillside above – the Howe of Tongue held a cist (canmore.org.uk/site/1492/hall-of-ireland)

Visited 20.03.12

Canmore ID 15443 (go to Links) gives a full description of Tullochgorum cairn. They stated it was probably a Clava Cairn.

The SMR entry from archaeology.ie:

Class: Decorated stone (present location)
Townland: CLONASILLAGH
Scheduled for inclusion in the next revision of the RMP: Yes
Description: The remains of this monument have been described by Eogan (2000, 7-9) as follows: ‘What survives to-day is a large flat stone and a rounded boulder, possibly an orthostat and kerb-stone. These are not in their original position but were dumped there after destruction. There are some other stones in the area, but these are much smaller. The large decorated stone is at least probably one of the “large upright stones” referred to by Conwell. From local information, it appears that a monument stood very close to where the stones now are, but it is not possible to determine its precise location or the date of the removal, but this may have been about 1990. It was removed by bull-dozing; the two stones described in this paper were thrown aside and according to a local informant, a pit was dug into which other large stones were dumped. The area tends to slope to the south-east but adjoining ground to the north-west is higher. ??Stone A is a large flag 2.40m long. At one end it is 1.35m in maximum width; at the other it is about 1m. It is 0.40m in average width. The material is carboniferous sandstone with round calcareous concretions. Two parallel grooves near the top left-hand corner were caused by the teeth of the bulldozer bucket. Decoration occurs on the broad face that is visible and on one of the narrow sides. There is no decoration on the other three narrow sides. The other broad face is lying on the ground, but as it has not been possible to have it lifted, it is not known if it has decoration. The surface of the stone is weathered and this restricts information about the motifs, and in particular about the technique used in its application, but it may be assumed that pocking predominated. ?On the broad face cup-marks predominate, one hundred and forty one examples being present. These are natural hollows, often elliptical in shape, but there is a hint in some that human modification took place. The “cup-marks” vary in size from small examples 4cm in diameter to larger examples 10cm in diameter and 2cm in depth. Two other principal motifs are present – curvilinear and rectilinear. There are three curvilinear motifs. Two are similar, each of which consists of a hollow surrounded by a circle, the uppermost motif being the larger of these two circles. The lowermost circle is the largest overall example. This also has a central hollow which is surrounded by two concentric circles. A third member consists of an arc on one aide. A somewhat crescentic-shaped motif extends across the upper portion of the surface. This has inward-hooked ends. One end extends above and down one side of the central cup-and-circle motif. Another large motif consists of a straight line which extends up most of the surface. This appears to cut across the left side of the hooked motif and is, therefore, a later addition. Its overall chronological position cannot be determined, but its surface weathering is similar to that of the other motifs. Perhaps it is an overlay on a primary composition. However, prominent straight lines are not a feature of megalithic art. ?The decoration on the vertical side consists largely of a series of lines. These are usually parallel, either vertical or horizontal. Some constitute a motif in the shape of an inverted L, but others tend to form a gate-like pattern. Towards the broad end, the side slopes and in this small area there are twelve hollows, some of which Beam to have been modified. ??Stone B is a boulder that has minimum dimensions of 1.77m in length, 1.69m in width and 0.83m in depth. The material is also carboniferous sandstone. It has been damaged, probably at the time of bulldozing and flakes have been detached. There are ten hollows on one of the broader surfaces, mainly close to one of the edges. As is the case with Stone A, all seem to have been natural, but possibly some were modified as was suggested for Stone A.’ (Eogan 2000)

The SMR entry on archaeology.ie:

Class: Cairn – unclassified
Townland: CLONASILLAGH
Scheduled for inclusion in the next revision of the RMP: Yes
Description: This has been described by Eogan (2000, 9-11) as follows: ‘This site is situated on a knoll, from which visibility is not very extensive, the most prominent feature being Carrigasimon hill about 4km (slightly over 2 miles) to the north-east as the crow flies. Before clearance, in July 1999, the site was very overgrown with a variety of bushes. Hence, apart from the top of what appeared to be a couple of longish stones, it was almost impossible to distinguish the type of monument. After clearance, the presence of eight stones arranged in a circle was revealed. There is also a small stone near No. 6. Only three of these, Nos. 1, 2 and 6, were in their original positions, the other five having fallen. There is a gap between the stones, and without excavation it is not possible to say if the circle was complete, but if it was, then, taking the dimensions of the stones surviving in situ, about fifteen stones are missing. If so, the original number would have been about twenty three. An interesting feature of the circle is the presence of two large stones (Nos. 1 and 6). They are the most substantial in the monument, with that on the east being 1.70m in height. Its opposite number is 1.66m in height. Furthermore, they are opposite each other, giving an East-West orientation. These are much larger than the only other surviving upright stone. No. 2, which is 0.93m in height. The dual east-west orientation recalls the similar orientation at Knowth, Site 1 (Eogan 1986, Fig. 16). This monument is 15m in external diameter. No internal features are visible but there is a spread of cairn all over, and while its average depth cannot be determined. It appears to be about 40cm. The surface of the interior is generally flat, but in a couple of places there is a greater depth of cairn than in others. Outside the kerb, for most of its circumference, there is a spread of smallish stones. These might represent cairn slip, if a higher cairn existed, or it could represent cairn debris that accumulated if such a cairn was removed. Professor Phillips reported that “all the stones at this site are composed of massive unstratified coarse grained greywacke formed by submarine debris flows. The greywacke shows a prominent cleavage and there are some elliptical shaped calcareous concretions which have been flattened and stretched on the cleavage. The rock type is typical of the Silurian aged bedrock of nearby Carrigammon Hill. The surfaces of the stones are rough and have a growth of moss, but it has not been possible to detect art.’ (Eogan 2000) ??ME010-044----_01.pdf: Plan and section of the monument (surveyed May 1995). ??Compiled by: Paul Walsh ??Date of upload: 21 April 2015

References:
1. Eogan, G. 2000 A group of Megalithic monuments at Kingsmountain – Clonasillagh, Co. Meath, Ríocht na Mídhe, 11, 1016.

The SMR record at archaeology.ie:

Class: Passage tomb art

Townland: KINGSMOUNTAIN (Kells Upper By.)

Scheduled for inclusion in the next revision of the RMP: Yes

Description: Described by Eogan (2000) as follows: ‘According to Conwell (1873, 14) a mound existed at this site up to a few years previously when it was removed by the land owner and the material spread over the field as top dressing. This implies that the mound was of earth. The stone was in the centre of the mound and it is stated that it covered a chamber that was constructed from flag stones; these were smaller than the decorated stone. However, the size and shape of the decorated stone suggests that it was an orthostat rather than a capstone.

To-day the decorated surface faces in a southerly direction, but as the stone has been re-erected, its original orientation is not known, nor can it be assumed that it was re-erected the correct way up. The chamber contained bones “all of which have disappeared”. The stone, rectangular in cross-section, is slightly over 2m in height and measures 0.85m in length at the base. The material is sandstone, the surface being uneven and flaked in places. Professor Phillips reports that “this stone is composed of well sorted cross-bedded quartz sandstone with a few circular calcareous concretions. This rock is of Lower Carboniferous age and could have been quarried in the Oldcastle area to the west.” The decoration is confined to the lower half of one of the two broad faces where it occupies virtually the entire surface. The motifs consist almost entirely of spirals. These are six in number. The bottom two are anti-clockwise; the remainder are clockwise. There are three main spirals and these extend diagonally along the face from top to bottom. The uppermost spiral is of four turns but portion of the top is now missing. At its base there are two sagging lines; perhaps these are all that remain of two further members. To its upper left there are traces of a curvilinear motif. The middle spiral consists of seven turns. The bottom example has five turns. It has been damaged due to the removal of part of the stone’s surface, especially on the right hand side. To the left of the central spiral there are three further spirals, but smaller and not so well preserved. That on the top has four turns; the middle has three and the bottom possibly five. To the bottom right of the large uppermost spiral there are two further lines. These are parallel and almost vertical. Between the outermost one and the edge there appears to be same slight depressions, possibly pickmarks.’ (Moore 1987, no. 26; Herity 1974, 244; Shee Twohig 1981, 224-5; Eogan 2000, 4-6)

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 21 April 2015

References:
1. Eogan, G. 2000 A group of Megalithic monuments at Kingsmountain – Clonasillagh, Co. Meath, Ríocht na Mídhe, 11, 1016.
2. Herity, M. 1974 Irish Passage Graves. Dublin. Irish University Press.
3. Moore, M. 1987 Archaeological inventory of county Meath. Dublin. Stationery Office.
4. Shee Twohig, E. 1981 The Megalithic Art of Western Europe. Oxford, Clarendon Press

In its isolated situation in the Modern World, Stalldown Stone Row would seem to be an ancient monument frozen in time. However, Historic England states that Stalldown Stone Row is in an area where peat has been cut so the stone row may not be as original as it appears. In fact, Historic England speculates that many of the stones may have been restored in slightly different locations.

I agree with Canmore ID 38030 regarding the mismatch of the two stones. They are as much Twins as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito!
Clachan Cean Ile I has a tall slender profile with a dressed flat surface opposite a natural round surface. Traditionally such stones are part of a stone circle with the smooth surface facing inwards.
Clachan Cean Ile II is a large squat boulder seeming to be a marker rather than part of a stone setting.

There should be a reason for a standing stone to be sited in its particular location. Looking at Peatshiel Sike I thought the profile of the stone viewed from SW mimics the summit profile of Bodesbeck Law.
Alternatively the stones E-W orientation may suggest a lunar standstill in between Saddle Yoke and Carrifran Gans summits.

There is a cornucopia of Rock Art pictures of Weetwood Moor, 11 individual sets of pictures listed under Weetwood, Wooler at the end of the Northumberland section of the BRAC website (go to Links).

I have added an updated link to the restored BRAC Rock Art archive compiled by Jan Brouwer and Gus Van Veen. The Dutchmen used Rockartuk to record and report on Rock Art the length and breadth of the UK taking exceptional pictures of Rock Art.
Sadly, Jan Brouwer died in 2011. Coincidentally Fotopic.net who hosted the archive ceased trading and the archive was lost. However, the photos were rescued and reposted on a new BRAC platform.

There is a link to the extensive Cairnholy on BRAC collection of pictures at the end of the listing.

Leskernick North Circle was added to the Historic England List (go to Links) on 16/10/19.

‘The stone circle comprises a recumbent stone (4m long) a little north of the circle’s centre with 25 stones in an almost-perfect circle approximately 23m in diameter.‘

The above quote is an extract from Historic England’s summary of Leskernick North Circle. A more detailed account is contained therein.

According to Historic England turf was cleared round the stones in 2018 so the circle will perhaps look more complete now.

As well as the long barrow, there is a round barrow across the road in the field to the north, apparently known as Royal Oak Field.

Summary of Pastscape details:

A round barrow situated at SP 06701239 upon the gentle north-facing slope of a ridge. The barrow measures in diameter 29.0m north-south by 26.0m transversely, with a maximum height of 1.0m. There are no visible remains of a ditch; under plough.

Two upright slabs seen in 1936 after ploughing are no longer visible.

The Bronze Age barrow is not clearly visible on the available aerial photographs, although a lighter coloured area, which is probably caused by a spread of the stone material that formed the mound, is visible in 1946.