MONUMENT NO. 43440
Bronze Age composite round cairn surviving as a mutilated structure. Excavation revealed a complex form incorporating layers of turf and vegetation, the pollen from which dated to 1600-1400BC.
SD 65581499. Tumulus (NR) (1) After preliminary investigations by Chorley Archaeological Society in 1957,excavations by Bu’Lock in 1958 on a composite cairn on Winter Hill revealed traces of an even earlier excavation of which no known record exists. Before excavation the site was apparent as a low earth dome with some loose stones. On the Southern side there was little superincumbent peat and a quadrant of the kerb was exposed. Excavations and probing beyond the kerb revealed no trace of a ditch. The structure, which was remarkably well preserved, consisted of a central cairn (about 8ft diameter and perhaps 5ft high) with a continuous low outer wall (about 60ft diameter and 12 to 18 inches high). The intervening space was filled first with “fresh greenery” (several inches thick), large inverted turfs (mainly centrally)and finally (mainly peripherally) with tipped loads of subsoil. Peat eventually submerged the kerb and its lower verges. In the absence of a central burial or of portable finds, constructional and ritual features, and pollen analyses suggest a likely date of about 1600 to 1400 BC, an early phase of local Bronze Age. (2)
SD65601499. A tumulus of earth and stone, earth predominating, situated on the western flank of Winter Hill approximately 1450 feet above sea level upon open moorland. The mound has been badly mutilated on the south and east face and a retaining circle of stone boulders is visible in these faces. The spoil from the excavation appears to have been cast inward. The centre of the tumulus appears to have been robbed at some early date. Overall diameter 19.2m maximum height 0.6m. No visible ditch. (3)
This cairn has been so mutilated by excavation that it is no longer recognisable as such. Approximately 12.0m of the outer wall (or kerb) is visible in the SE perimeter but the remainder of the cairn is covered by peat, rough grass and stone rubble. (4)
SD 6558 1500. Round cairn on Winter Hill. Scheduled RSM No 23709.A circular earth and stone mound up to 0.3m high and 19.2m in diameter. (5)
Winter Hill Tumulus image by munki-boy
Looking at evidence for prehistoric human activity in the West Pennine Moors area.
