Not Just a Pile of Rocks !
Cairn Survey & Repair on Dartmoor
The Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA) volunteer conservation team, accompanied by Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA)/English Heritage’s (EH) archaeologist and DNPA’s Historic Environment Record Officer, returned to Cawsand Beacon in September 2010 to complete its survey and repair of the summit cairns. As this particular survey represented the end of this phase of the Dartmoor Cairn Survey and Repair project, the volunteers celebrated their achievements with a piece of home made cake and a cup of ‘bubbly’. With great dedication, the volunteers have surveyed and repaired 49 Bronze Age cairns and associated features across Dartmoor.
How did it all begin?
The DPA / DNPA / EH Cairn Survey and Repair Project started back in 2005. It was recognised by EH that some of the (mainly) Bronze Age summit cairns on Dartmoor were slowly being quarried into odd shapes by people and that, if unchecked, this could lead to fragile archaeology being disturbed. Having noticed the DPA’s success with its Bracken Project, archaeologist, Andy Crabb, who works for the DNPA and EH, asked if the DPA volunteers could help. The DPA offered to survey the cairns in detail and repair areas of modern damage and Anne Whitbourn has been the DPA project leader throughout.
What are Bronze Age Cairns?
These cairns, although apparently just piles of rock, are around 4,000 years old, and many are scheduled historic monuments. Although the purpose of the cairns is unclear, it is considered that their primary function was to mark burials or territories. Some of the cairns have been excavated and finds have included human hair, Beaker Pottery, worked flint, a small amount of bronze and a possible copper spearhead.
Why is it important to protect them?
Dartmoor’s summit cairns are distinctive features on the landscape which naturally attract visitors. Over time, people have added stones to the cairns or removed them, creating hollows within the cairn itself. If the quarry hollows continue to develop, it could lead to the exposure of potential surviving buried archaeological features and their subsequent destruction. The repair work will go some way to towards ensuring that any buried archaeology stays buried and is not disturbed or contaminated by modern materials. Repairs to the cairns, which have been undertaken sensitively and under professional guidance, have dismantled modern disturbance and infilled related quarry hollows.
Commitment of the volunteers
Initially, it was planned to deal with 21 cairns but as the work was completed well ahead of schedule, the volunteers have gone on to survey and repair a further 28 cairns, with no sign of wanting to stop! At the beginning of the project the DPA had one skilled team of plane table/offset surveyors and now in 2010 they have five skilled teams, with a core of 20 or so trained people available. There are opportunities for scouting and similar youth groups, businesses seeking team building projects and students requiring work experience to engage with the DPA conservation team’s projects and regular volunteers for the cairn project have often been joined by visiting volunteers or students. Comments from volunteers which help to give a flavour of what it has been like to be involved with the project include –
“... initially we were naturally nervous about doing the wrong thing, especially considering the importance of achieving an accurate representation of the cairns, but thanks to Anne, Andy and everyone’s support we gradually gained the skills to do the job.” (Tanya and Barry Welch)
“... what I find truly amazing is, during a pause in the measuring, to wander down to the table to watch the drawer convert a mass of dots into a two dimensional image of a three dimensional cairn. Wonderful days out on the moor with a great group of people.” (Derek ‘the pole’ Collins)
“...taking part in this worthwhile project of caring for the cairns, which I am proud to be part of, with a great team of people, is a welcome respite from my normal pressures of working in a busy hospital.” (Tim Whitbourn)
The ‘official’ view
Andy Crabb, archaeologist, who has been involved with the project throughout says –
“Of all the various tasks and jobs I have to undertake as part of my duties, the Cairn Repair Project is definitely one of my favourites. The quality of the work undertaken by the group is of the highest order and the surveys in particular are second to none. The success of the project has been entirely due to the close working partnerships that have evolved between the volunteers and the organisations involved. And the reality is we are all doing the work for the simple reason that we all greatly appreciate Dartmoor and want to help preserve it.”
The project’s major legacy is the body of information in the form of plans, photographs and written information that the volunteers have accumulated and this comprehensive record is due to be finalised by 2011/12. The project has succeeded in removing 22 at risk sites from the Heritage at Risk register. The surveys and plans produced are the only known detailed plans for Dartmoor cairns. These will be kept in the Historic Environment Record at the DNPA’s offices in Parke, accessible by professionals or the public for study.
The Dartmoor Preservation Association’s conservation team regularly carries out conservation work to protect a number of archaeological and heritage sites on Dartmoor and new volunteers are always welcome. If interested, please contact the DPA office 01822 890646.
