White Tor S.S.W.1 Long Cairn

Database entries

OS Map: SX 54023 78321
OS Source: Garmin
HER: MDV4179
Alternate name: White Tor S.S.W.1
Short Name: CN White SSW1
Butler map: 31.21.1
Grinsell: PETER TAVY 29a
Exist: Yes
Record: Unique
Record Source: Butler
Cairn Class: Yes
Dimensions (m): 13.0 x 5.7
Lidar: SX 54023 78321
Nearby sites: SX 54023 78321

Notes

The Dartmoor Exploration Committee (Report 6 1899) describes investigating 3 cairns in this location. The damaged remains are difficult today to interpret. Many authors suggest that the long cairn consists of two or more of these cairns. The current author visited this location on 27th May 2022 with just the knowledge that there were 3 reported cairns. I photographed a very likely cairn, namely, the long cairn (Butler 1). A semi-circular bank (Butler 3) and a faint mound around a natural rock (Butler 2). I noted at the time of the visit that both 2 and 3 are possible but doubtful cairns. I did not have the Butler account with me at the time I photographed and logged these. Looking now at Butler's account it looks like he reached the same conclusions and the entries here follow Butler with similar doubt on Butler 2 and Butler 3.

Gerrard: "cairn forming part of widely dispersed group of at least 14. Cairn mound measures 15m long by 6m wide and stands up to 1m high. A shallow hollow in the northern end of the mound measures 3m long by 1.5m wide and 0.15m deep and at the southern end another hollow measuring 1.5m long by 1m wide and 0.2m deep has been identified. These hollows are probably the result of a partial excavation carried out by the dartmoor exploration committee in 1899. This work revealed a pit containing ashes and charcoal. Grinsell has suggested that this cairn is two joined mounds, but without excavation this hypothesis cannot be tested. Two other doubtful mounds have been identified in close proximity to this cairn. These may be the remnants of two further cairns excavated by the dartmoor exploration committee, though there is not sufficient visible evidence to confirm this identification"

References

These are selected references with an emphasis on out of copyright sources linked as PDFs. For more detailed references try any linked HER or PMD record above.

• Baring-Gould, Sabine, Sixth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, T.D.A. Vol.31 pp.146-155 (1899)
• Butler, Jeremy, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, vol.2: The North, (1991)
• Grinsell, L.V., Dartmoor Barrows, Devon Archaeological Society Proceedings No.36 (1978)