The Turner Classification of Cairns
Turner used the following clasifications for stone circles and cairns:
Listing of Turner Cairns: B Embanked Stone Circles
Wigford Down 4 Embanked Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 54694 64972
HER: MDV2368
Megalithic Portal: 3536
Short Name: CC WigfordDown
Butler map: 48.1.4
Grinsell: MEA 7a
Turner: A39
Barrow Report: 12 62
Dimensions (m): 10.0 x 0.5
Notes: Listed as Wigford Down B on Tom Greeves list of potential 'Sacred' Pools.
NMR B. "Stone ring, diam 10.5m, with bank 2.5m wide and 0.5m high.3m wide entrance on s side" See Butler Vol 3 p.97 fig. 48.1.2. Wigford Down 3 in Barrow Report 62.
This ring cairn survives as a circular bank measuring up to 3.5 metres wide and 0.75 metres high which surrounds a flat interior up to 17.5 metres in diameter. There is evidence for partial early excavation or robbing on the south west side. Noted in 2019 as a possible 'sacred' pool.
Nearby sites: SX 54694 64972
Deadman's Bottom Embanked Cairn Circle
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Guide to the Langcombe Brook & Deadman's Bottom Cists
OS Map: SX 60711 67027
HER: MDV12420
Megalithic Portal: 3194
Alternate name: Deadman's Bottom 1 Embanked Cairn Circle
Short Name: CC Deadmans 1
Turner: B1
Dimensions (m): 16
Notes: "Turner identifies this site as an embanked stone circle; an annular bank of earth and/or stones with an inner edge of orthostats. Internal diam 16m with bank 0.8m wide and 0.3m high. The bank has been pushed out on the sse side and the stones lean outward (turner)." Turner B1.
Nearby sites: SX 60711 67027
Merrivale Embanked Cairn Circle and Cist
OS Map: SX 55360 74747
HER: MDV4997
Megalithic Portal: 10503
PMD: Merrivale SW.
Alternate name: Merrivale 8 Embanked Cairn Circle and Cist
Short Name: CT MerrivaleSW
Butler map: 44.8.8
Grinsell: WAL 1
Turner: B2
Dimensions (m): c.20.0
Notes: "The excavation of 1851 seems to have been thorough, completely destroying structural remains of both the cairn and the 'cist or inner circle',. There is now a circular turf covered area, 18.0m. in diameter, with random stones protruding through the surface. Off centre there is a hollow, 7.0m. by 4.0m. and 0.5m. deep." Butler Merrivale Vol. 3. Map 44.8.8 (pp.30-1).
Nearby sites: SX 55360 74747
Cator Common Embanked Cairn Circle
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cator Pound
OS Map: SX 67426 78001
HER: MDV5978
Megalithic Portal: 52173
Short Name: CC CatorCommon
Butler map: 18.4
Grinsell: WID 1
Turner: B3
Dimensions (m): 18
Notes: "Cairn, to the south-west of (a) - (SX 67 NE45), 15 ft. diameter and 3 ft high; comprised of small stones overgrown with gorse and heather on unenclosed moorland."
Nearby sites: SX 67426 78001
Cudlipptown Down Embanked Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 53732 78949
HER: MDV13252
Megalithic Portal: 45608
Alternate name: White Tor N.W.2 Embanked Cairn Circle
Short Name: CC Cudlipptown
Butler map: 31.23.2
Butler Vol 5: p.188 & Fig.130
Grinsell: PET 21
Turner: B5
Dimensions (m): 16.0 x 0.3
Notes: "A ring cairn set at the eastern end of a natural gently sloping plateau of rough grassland generally devoid of stones. It measures about 11m diameter inside a turf-covered bank, composed generally of smallish stones, which is about 2.2m wide and has a maximum height of 0.4m on the E. It has been mutilated and spread in the south-east and the west. Several stones, are evident, two probably set in the inner face but the rest are apparently part of the bank of even part of the outer face. Two in the east on the uphill side appear to form an entrance but this is possibly due to mutilation. The interior appears to have been levelled and is 0.2m above the ground to the W. There is no evidence of any internal features or a ditch"
Nearby sites: SX 53732 78949
Mardon Down Embanked Cairn Circle
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Mardon Down Stone Circle & Cairns
OS Map: SX 76744 87691
HER: MDV8308
Megalithic Portal: 3375
Alternate name: Mardon Down Pillared Circle 5 Embanked Cairn Circle
Short Name: CC Mardon 5
Butler Vol 5: p.150 & Fig.92
Grinsell: MOR 1
Turner: B6
DPD: 149
Dimensions (m): 10 x 0.7
Notes: Impressive cairn circle with a well preserved ring of large pillars surrounded by an outer kerb ring of smaller slabs on their edges. The cairn is 11m. in diameter and 0.5m. high, with a well preserved cairn circle comprising a 9.0m. diameter circle of spaced uprights averaging 0.8m. high, with kerbing between. Unlike the stone circle it is marked on the OS Okehampton and North Dartmoor Landranger map (Sheet 191). It is easy to confuse this cairn with the less well preserved stone circle which is a few hundred metres to the south. Turner B6.
Nearby sites: SX 76744 87691
Joan Ford's Newtake Embanked Cairn Circle and Cist
OS Map: SX 63143 72168
HER: MDV6260
Megalithic Portal: 3295
PMD: Joan Ford's Newtake
Alternate name: Joan Ford's Newtake 1 Embanked Cairn Circle and Cist
Short Name: CT Joan Fords
Butler map: 63.3.1
Grinsell: LYD 92
Turner: B7
DPD: 99
Barrow Report: 30 56
Dimensions (m): 8.0 x 0.4
Notes: "A low kerb within the disturbed fringes of the mound is 8.7m in diameter with more or less continuous upright slabs and boulders 0.3m to 0.6m high. A dry stone newtake wall crosses the N side and overlies part of the kerb. A well-preserved cist, oriented NW-SE, is internally 1.0m long, 0.5m to 0.65m wide and up to 0.7m deep. The coverstone leans against the SE side of the cist and measures 1.35m by 1.0m by 0.2." Lethbridge diagram p.99, photo bottom p.99. Butler Joan Ford's Newtake 1 - Vol. 4. Map 63.3 (diagram p.214).
Nearby sites: SX 63143 72168
Merrivale North Embanked Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 55340 74845
HER: MDV3757
Megalithic Portal: 10502
Alternate name: Merrivale 10 Embanked Cairn Circle
Short Name: CC Merrivale10
Butler map: 44.8.10
Turner: B8
Dimensions (m): 9
Notes: "Turner describes this site as an embanked stone circle; an annular bank of earth and/or stones with an inner edge of orthostats. Internal diameter is 8.0 meters with a bank 0.8 meters wide and 0.3 meters high. Much disturbed." Turner B8.
Nearby sites: SX 55340 74845
Mardle Embanked Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 67526 69359
HER: MDV5308
Megalithic Portal: 3374
Alternate name: Mardle Valley 1 Embanked Cairn Circle
Short Name: CC Mardle
Butler map: 58.12.1
Turner: B11
Dimensions (m): 12.0 x 0.3
Notes: Embanked stone circle; an annular bank of earth and/or stone with an inner edge of orthostats. Much disturbed. Internal diam 6.5m with bank 1.2m wide and 0.4m high (turner). This cairn has a very interesting structure appearing to be multiple circles of stones similar to the cairns at Corringdon Ball. This structure is difficult to capture in a photograph as the stones are small and the site much disturbed.
Nearby sites: SX 67526 69359
Harbourne Head B Embanked Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 69147 65009
HER: MDV5803
Megalithic Portal: 3279
Alternate name: Parnell's Hill 2 Embanked Cairn Circle
Short Name: CC Harbourne B
Butler map: 57.31.7
Grinsell: DEA 10
Turner: B12
Dimensions (m): 23.0 x 1.5
Notes: "Embanked stone circle; annular bank of earth and/or stones with inner kerb of orthostats. Measures 15.0 metres in diameter internally with bank 2.0 metres wide and 0.5 meters high with a cairn in the centre, 9.0 metres in diameter and 1.1 metres in height. The west and south sides have been disturbed."
Nearby sites: SX 69147 65009
Mis Tor Farm Embanked Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 56926 75946
HER: MDV15372
Megalithic Portal: 45609
Alternate name: Little Mis Tor S.E. Embanked Cairn Circle
Short Name: CC:MisTor Farm
Butler map: 30.17
Butler Vol 5: p.163 & Fig.104
Grinsell: LYD 37a
Turner: B13
Dimensions (m): 22.0 x 0.4
Notes: "Base of ancient tumulus, about 20m in diameter, may have formed a bound of the ancient boundary between lydford and walkhampton (prowse)."
Nearby sites: SX 56926 75946
Cosdon Beacon Embanked Cairn Circle and Cist
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cosdon Hill Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 63708 91593
HER: MDV6898
Megalithic Portal: 10325
PMD: Cosdon Summit S.
Alternate name: Cosdon Hill 3 Embanked Cairn Circle and Cist
Short Name: CT Cosdon 3
Butler map: 40.7.3
Butler Vol 5: p.164 & Fig.105
Grinsell: ST 2
Turner: B14
DPD: 152
Barrow Report: 21
Dimensions (m): c.18.0 x 0.4
Notes: "Ring cairn and cist on summit ridge of Cawsand Hill. Cairn forms part of a cemetery including at least 2 round cairns, 2 ring cairns and one platform cairn. Earthwork survives as a 2m wide and 0.4m high circular rubble bank, faced with close set stones around its outer edge and surrounds an internal area measuring 18m ew by 17m ns. A mound measuring 6m in diam and 0.2m high stands in the centre of the area enclosed by the circular bank and contains a stone cist with 2 slabs surviving." Turner B14(diagram p.59). Butler Cosdon Beacon 3 Vol. 2. Map 40.7.3 (diagram Vol. 5. p.164). NMR Cairn B. Possible cist? This site is difficult to photograph, the photo shows part of one side of the ring.
Nearby sites: SX 63708 91593
Page last updated 12/07/15