White Raise round cairn, Askham Fell

Reasons for Designation

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 may be 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.

Despite limited antiquarian investigation White Raise round cairn survives well. This investigation located human remains, and further evidence of interments will exist within the mound and upon the old landsurface beneath. The monument lies within an area of open fell rich in prehistoric monuments, and is situated upon an alignment of funerary monuments stretching for over 1.5km along the natural communication route over a col between Lowther and Ullswater valleys. It thus indicates the importance of this area in prehistoric times and the diversity of monument types to be found here. The monument will contribute to the study of the ceremonial function of cairns and other spatially associated monuments in the area.

Details

The monument is White Raise round cairn. It is located on Askham Fell and includes a partly mutilated oval mound of stones up to 1.8m high with maximum dimensions of 22m by 17.9m. Slightly south west of the cairn's centre is an open rectangular cist measuring 1.25m by 0.6m and up to 0.4m deep with an adjacent displaced limestone capping slab. A series of three partly turf-covered stone banks up to 3m wide extend tangentially from the body of the cairn. The largest of these banks is orientated south west from the edge of the cairn and extends for 20m. There are faint indications of a dry stone structure within the bank and some larger stones along the edge indicative of kerbing. A second bank extends along the eastern and north eastern sides of the cairn but does not actually separate from the cairn. The third bank is orientated north west from the edge of the cairn and extends for 10m. Limited antiquarian investigation located an adult inhumation within the slightly off-centre cist.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

22524

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Quartermaine, J, Askham Fell Survey Catalogue, (1992), 23-4
Quartermaine, J, Askham Fell Survey Catalogue, (1992), 23

Other
Taylor, (1886)
To Quartermaine,J., Clare, T (County Archaeologist),

End of official list entry

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