Scheduled Monument: Round cairn cemetery, 570m east of Selworthy Beacon (1020794)

Details The monument, which lies in six separate areas of protection, includes a prehistoric round cairn cemetery which is situated in open moorland occupying a prominent position along a ridge overlooking the Bristol Channel to the north and Dunkery Beacon to the south. The cemetery includes nine cairns which extend downslope broadly in a line from north west to south east between Bossington Hill and North Hill. The mounds of the cairns range from 8.5m to 18m in diameter and are between 0.4m high and 1.5m high. Several of the cairn mounds have hollow depressions at their centres and three have more pronounced depressions. The mound of the westernmost cairn has a central depression which is 2.2m long and 0.5m deep and another, located at the centre of the group, has a depression 6.5m diameter and 1m deep on its northern side. A cairn located towards the east side of the group has a depression 5.7m in diameter and 1.2m deep and two small mounds adjacent to its east and west sides which are thought to be deposits of material removed from the cairn mound. Two of the cairn mounds survive in the form of low rims approximately 0.5m high enclosing an uneven central area. The past disturbance to the cairn mounds has been attributed to stone material having been removed in antiquity for the construction of field walls and boundaries. However, it is also known that at least three of the cairns were the subject of partial excavations in the early 19th century by Richard Fenton, during which quantities of charcoal were recovered. Selected Sources Book Reference - Title: National Monument Record - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 94 NW 103 Book Reference - Title: National Monument Record - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 94 NW 105 Book Reference - Title: National Monument Record - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 94 NW 107 Book Reference - Title: National Monument Record - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 94 NW 111 Book Reference - Title: National Monument Register - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 94 NW 110 Book Reference - Title: National Monuments Record - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 94 NW 104 Book Reference - Title: National Monuments Record - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 94 NW 108 Book Reference - Title: National Monuments Record - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 94 NW 109 Book Reference - Title: National Monuments Register - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: SS 94 NW 106 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 pt 1 - Page References: 36 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Minehead Without No 10 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 pt 1 - Page References: 36 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Minehead Without No 2 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 pt 1 - Page References: 36 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Minehead Without No 3 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 pt 1 - Page References: 36 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Minehead Without No 4 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 pt 1 - Page References: 36 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Minehead Without No 6 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 pt 1 - Page References: 36 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Minehead Without No 7 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 pt 1 - Page References: 36 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Minehead Without No 9 Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 pt 1 - Page References: 36 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Minehead Without Nos 8, 8a & 8b Article Reference - Author: Grinsell, L V - Title: Somerset Barrows - Date: 1969 - Journal Title: Proceedings Somerset Archaeologival & Natural History Society - Volume: 113 pt 1 - Page References: 36 - Type: DESC TEXT - Description: Minehead Without No 4a