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Stones Forum >> Unchambered round cairns.....why?
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Unchambered round cairns.....why? |
Sparky
Joined:
01-03-2004
Messages: 3
from Bournemouth
 OFF-Line
|  Posted 01-03-2004 at 21:18
I have been undertaking a study of round cairns in the Southern part of the Isle of Man, an area rich in Prehistoric archaeological sites.
The two in question are:
Cronk ny Arry Laa - which sits atop a hill and set back from a sheer cliff edge, with magificent views of the island and surrounding waters. The cairn itself is not huge at around 8m in diameter and 2.5m in height. It is constructed largely of Slate (schist) and quartz with one anomalous small boulder of granite containing (quartz?) micro-crystals. The cairn has undergone slipping and modification by humans, creating a walkers cairn atop the original. It is encircled with a number of anomalous features, one of which is a miniature cairn (possibly built in modern times by walkers?) the other half dozen or so appear to be cists surrounding the main cairn at relativley regular intevals. One is seemingly joined to the main cairn by a flagstone path constructed of large slate pieces.
South Barrule - This cairn is situated at the summit of the second highest peak of the range that forms the backbone of the island. It is enclosed within a hillfort. Also within this hillfort appears a large settlement of between 70 and 200 hut circles, many adjoined, as if to save wallbuilding (lack of material?) or perhaps indicating more than one phase? However, the environment atop the hill, let me tell you, after spending a day geophysing and carrying out a topographic survey, is not the most welcoming. The wind blows hard and the cold bites, so it is assumed that the settlement within the hillfort was used mainly in times of strife? This is an interesting tangent, however, the cairn is the subject of my study. These constructions are presumed to be of a Bronze Age date, however, the fact that the cairn seems to have been respected during the construction of the settlement suggests that it may have still been in use at this time or at least held some place in the thoughts of the Iron Age people? Perhaps even through superstition? Maybe it was even constructed in this time? And so, much later than assumed? The cairn is much less substancial than comparisons found, so perhaps it was robbed of its stone? the ramparts of the hillfort have used drystone walling to strengthen and so this is a possibility, but if this is the case, why did they leave a substantial amount of the cairn material in its place? The cairn has suffered much, detrimental to it original appearance, through the positioning of a trigpoint at its centre, removal of stone and replacement by walkers, it is very unlikely that it looks at all as it did in its hey-day.
If you have any thoughts on, either the anomalous features surrounding Cronk ny Arry Laa or the mystery of South Barrule, your ideas will be hugely appreciated and acknowledged within the study.
Also.......why do people still build walkers cairns atop hill summits, ridges and other vantage points? And why did they do so in Prehistoric times? Is there some connection? Do we have some innate desire to build, seemingly impractical, piles of stone in these odd places?
Thank you for your perseverance in reading this rant 
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