Monument record 6420/0/1 - Probable Bronze Age Cairn, Wakerley Great Wood

A low earthwork mound situated in Wakerley Wood

{1}2 low mounds in area of woodland recently felled; main mound 10-15m diam x 1m high; subsidiary mound immediately to W; large limestone fragments also evident;

{2}Survey conducted on possible barrow with stone chamber or cairn. Main feature - roughly circular mound approx 11metre in diameter and up to 1 metre high. Slight hollow in centre up to 0.25 metre deep, partially defined by large exposed limestone fragments. At least one and up to three appear to be positioned as standing stones - only partially exposed above ground surface. Large stone fragments scatter to west and to a certain extent to the north, south and east. Possible ditch trace to west of mound, but very uncertain.

{3}The extant feature comprises a small low compact mound which is almost circular 12m by 11m and 0.7m high. A number of large stones and boulders break the surface and it would appear that the mound is made up of stones and small boulders. Traces of a ditch (maximum 4m wide and 0.15m deep) exist on west and east of the mound. Forty earth-fast stones or boulders (over 0.3m wide) lie on and around the mound, it is possible that four of these boulders that surround the mound once formed a kerb. On the summit a number of stone settings suggest that there may have been a rectangular arrangement central to the mound. There is one upright orthostat, measuring 1.3m by 0.4m and 0.6m in height.The mound would appear to be an Early Bronze Age cairn and as such is unique to the area, the majority of examples being found in highland areas - the nearest being in the Peak District.,

{4} D_Hall_Survey_Site. S1.

{6} Visit undertaken in June 2015 confirmed the clearing is still largely present, but that it is being encroached upon by trees and shrubs. Management proposals and recommendations put forward.

{7} With Forestry Commission approval Field Group volunteers used hand tools to carefully cut back the bracken and other ground cover and re-expose the monument’s earthworks and earth-fast stones.

<1> CADMAN G.E., 1994, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Note). SNN50009.

<2> CADMAN G.E., 1994, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN50058.

<3> Field D.; Brown G., 1997, A Bronze Age Cairn in Wakerley Great Wood, Northamptonshire: a Survey by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, (unchecked) (Report). SNN44227.

<4> Hall D.N., 2001, Northamptonshire Woodland Survey Archive (Digital archive). SNN109590.

<5> Hall D. N., 2000, Forest Enterprise Woodlands In Northamptonshire - Wakerley Wood Archaeological Survey, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100614.

<6> Cadman G, 2015, Wakerley Great Wood, Northamptonshire-note on condition of BA cairn, (unchecked) (Note). SNN110131.

<6> Cadman G, 2017, A Bronze Age cairn at Wakerley Great Wood, (unchecked) (Note). SNN112213.

<7> Cadman G, 2017, Wakerley Great Wood, Northamptonshire - report on fieldwork assessment of BA cairn (Note). SNN110587.

Record last edited

Jan 10 2023 3:11PM