For those who may not know, the terms ‘cairns’ and ‘tumuli’ are just prehistoric tombs. Another word we find as we move further north into Scotland is ‘cist’, which has a similar affiliation – though a cist is more accurately a stone-lined coffin, over which cairns tend to be built. A cairn is a pile of loose rocks and stones, which tends to be erected over a single or multiple burial or cremation – though without excavation we can never be sure which one it’s gonna be! Chambered cairns are well-designed cairns with lengthy entrances or internal ‘rooms.’ A tumulus meanwhile (‘tumuli’ is the plural) is a heap of earth piled up over a burial or cremation. Small cairns and tumuli tend to cover single graves; whilst larger ones can have multiple burials therein. However we sometimes find that huge tombs have only one or two burials/cremations inside. In such cases it is probable that the people entombed there were of considerable importance: perhaps a tribal chief, a king, a queen, or powerful shaman. In many places across Brigantia and Scotland, where there’s a profusion of cairns/tumuli we tend to find good examples of prehistoric rock art, or cup-and-ring stones.
BARROWS, CAIRNS, TUMULI: Bibliography & References
- Aberdour, Fife
- Achadh Thaibstil, Bettyhill, Sutherland
- Acharn Burn, Kenmore, Perthshire
- Achnacree, Achnacreebeag, Argyll
- Acrehowe Hill, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
- Addlebrough, Bainbridge, North Yorkshire
- Aird Thorr Innse, Gigha, Argyll
- Aithernie, Scoonie, Fife
- Alexander’s Hill, Follifoot, North Yorkshire
- Allington Hill, Bottisham, Cambridgeshire
- Allington Hill (2), Bottisham, Cambridgeshire
- Allington Hill (3), Bottisham, Cambridgeshire
- Allington Hill (4), Bottisham, Cambridgeshire
- Allington Hill (5), Bottisham, Cambridgeshire
- All Saints Church, Almondbury, West Yorkshire
- Alresford Hill, Alresford, Essex
- Angel Moon Field, Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire
- Annfield, Bridge of Allan – see Lentran, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire
- Apronful of Stones, Wigtwizzle, Bradfield, South Yorkshire
- Apronful of Stones, Settle, North Yorkshire
- Ardilistry, Islay, Argyll
- Ardlamey, Gigha, Argyll
- Ardminish, Gigha, Argyll
- Armshaw Lowe, Oxenhope, West Yorkshire
- Ashleigh Barrow, Darwen, Lancashire
- Askwith Moor Cairnfield, North Yorkshire
- Auchenlaich, Callander, Perthshire
- Balloch, Alyth, Perthshire
- Badbury Barrow, Shapwick, Dorset
- Badger Wells Cairn, Pendle Hill, Lancashire
- Baildon Moor Circle, West Yorkshire – see Lower Glovershaw
- Baile Mhargaite Cist (01), Bettyhill, Sutherland
- Baile Mhargaite Cist (02), Bettyhill, Sutherland
- Ballachraggan, Callander, Perthshire
- Barnhill, Jura, Argyll
- Baron’s Cairn, Black Crofts, Argyll
- Barr a’ Chuirn, Slockavullin, Kilmartin, Argyll
- Barrow Field, Bushy Park, Teddington, Middlesex
- Bartlow Hills, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire
- Battle Hill Dolmen, Huntly, Aberdeenshire
- Batty Wife Hole, Ribblehead, North Yorkshire
- Beacon Hill, Barkisland, West Yorkshire
- Beacon Hill, Swaffam Bulbeck, Cambridgeshire
- Bedd y Cawr, Llanymynech, Montgomeryshire
- Bedford Hill, Tooting, Surrey
- Beinn na Caillich, Broadford, Skye
- Belton Road, Silsden, West Yorkshire
- Birkhill House, Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire
- Birkhill Sandpit, Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire
- Blackheath Circle, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
- Black Hill Long Cairn, Low Bradley Moor, North Yorkshire
- Black Hill Round Cairn, Low Bradley Moor, North Yorkshire
- Black Hill Tumulus, Middleton Moor – see Round Hill, Middleton Moor
- Bleara Lowe, Earby, Lancashire
- Bleara Moor Cairnfield, Earby, Lancashire
- Bleara Moor Tumulus, Earby, Lancashire
- Brink Ends, Dovestones Moor, Trawden, Lancashire
- Boatbridge Quarry, Thankerton, Lanarkshire
- Borough Hills, West Mersea, Essex
- Borgie, Tongue, Sutherland
- Bown Hill Long Barrow, Woodchester, Gloucestershire
- Bown Hill Tumulus, Woodchester, Gloucestershire
- Bracklin Burn, Dunblane, Perthshire
- Breckon Howe, Sleights Moor, Sleights, North Yorkshire
- Briggate, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Broadgate, Strathblane, Stirlingshire
- Brotton Howe, Brotton, Cleveland, North Yorkshire
- Brown Hill, Saddleworth, Lancashire
- Brown Howes, Ebberston Low Moor, North Yorkshire
- Bryn Celli Ddu, Llandaniel Fab, Anglesey
- Bul Barrow, Woolland, Dorset
- Burwains Lake, Foulridge, Lancashire
- Caesar’s Camp Barrow, Wimbledon, Surrey
- Cairn 1, Stanbury Hill, Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Cairn 2, Stanbury Hill, Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Cairn 3, Stanbury Hill, Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Cairn 4, Stanbury Hill, Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Cairn 5, Stanbury Hill, Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Cairn 6, Stanbury Hill, Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Cairnbane, Portnacroish, Argyll
- Cairnpark, Dollar, Clackmannanshire
- Cairnwochel, Ardoch, Braco, Perthshire
- Calderstones, Allerton, Liverpool, Lancashire
- Caravan Park, Blair Drummond, Stirlingshire
- Carleatheran, Gargunnock, Stirlingshire
- Carleith, Crook of Devon, Kinross-shire
- Carlowrie, Kirkliston, Midlothian
- Carmyllie Hill, Greystone, Angus
- Carn Ban, Glen Cochill, Perthshire
- Carn Ban, Kilmartin, Argyll
- Castle Carr, Luddenden Dean, West Yorkshire
- Castle Farm Circles, Barcaldine, Argyll
- Castle Law, Blairlogie, Stirlingshire
- Catfoss Cemetery, Hornsea, East Yorkshire
- Cat Heaps, Swanston, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Catlow Quarry, Nelson, Lancashire
- Cedars Road, Clapham, Surrey
- Chealamy, Strathnaver – see Farr Church
- Chellow Heights, Heaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Church Field, North Ockendon, Essex
- Cicely Low, Houndkirk Moor, South Yorkshire
- Cladh Chlainn Iain, Jura, Argyll
- Cliviger Laithe, Worsthorne, Burnley, Lancashire
- Cliviger Law, Mereclough, Burnley, Lancashire
- Cnoc a’ Chuirn Mhoir, Jura, Argyll
- Cnoc na Croise, Ardminish, Argyll
- Cock Hill, Wadsworth Moor, West Yorkshire
- Cock Howe (1), Skelton Moor, Marske, North Yorkshire
- Coldstone Beck Cairn (01), Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Coldstone Beck Cairn (02), Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Coldstone Beck Cairn (03), Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Coneypark Nursery, Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire
- Cow Keeper’s Field, Boulby, Easington, North Yorkshire
- Cowpasture Road, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
- Craigenkirn, New Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire
- Craigkennockie, Burntisland, Fife
- Craigmaddie Muir (1), Baldernock, Stirlingshire
- Craigmaddie Muir (2), Baldernock, Stirlingshire
- Craigton, Cleish, Kinross, Kinross-shire
- Cray, Hubberholme, Buckden, North Yorkshire
- Creich Manse, Brunton, Fife
- Croes-llechau, Bronllys, Breconshire
- The Croft, Doune, Perthshire
- Cromlix Lodge, Dunblane, Perthshire
- Crow Hill Cairn Circle, Midgley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Culliford Tree Barrow, Whitcombe, Dorset
- Cuparlaw Woods, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire
- Dalvraid, Melness, Tongue, Sutherland
- Danes Hills, Riccall, North Yorkshire
- Danes Hills, Skipwith, North Yorkshire
- Delf Hill, Extwistle, Burnley, Lancashire
- Devil’s Apronful, Appletreewick, North Yorkshire
- Devil’s Apronful, Pendle Hill, Lancashire
- Devil’s Den, Clatford, Wiltshire
- Dobrudden Necropolis, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
- Douglas Terrace, Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire
- Dowley Gap, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Downs Farm, Kempshott, Basingstoke, Hampshire
- Drizzlecombe 13, Ditsworthy Warren, Sheepstor, Devon
- Druimyeonbeg, Gigha, Argyll
- Duel Cross Hill, Grafton, North Yorkshire
- Dumpton Park, Ramsgate, Kent
- Dunblane Cathedral, Stirlingshire
- Dun Riaskidh, Torrisdale Bay, Sutherland
- Dwarf’s Tomb, Alva, Clackmannanshire
- Easter Nether Urquhart, Gateside, Fife
- Eastwood Farm, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire
- Edmund’s Grave, Dron, Perthshire
- Elf Howe, Folkton, East Yorkshire
- Elf Howe, Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Elistoun West, Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire
- Elphillock, Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire
- Fairy Knowe, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire
- Fairy Knowe, Crarae, Minard, Argyll
- Fairy Knowe, Kinross, Kinross-shire
- Fairy Toot, Butcombe, Somerset
- The Falls (1), Boulby, Easington, North Yorkshire
- The Falls (2), Boulby, Easington, North Yorkshire
- Farr Church, Bettyhill, Sutherland
- Feizor Thwaite, Lawkland, North Yorkshire
- Firtholme, Easington, East Yorkshire
- Fiscary 1, Farr, Sutherland
- Fiscary 2, Farr, Sutherland
- Fiscary 3, Farr, Sutherland
- Fiscary 4, Farr, Sutherland
- Fiscary Cairnfield, Bettyhill, Sutherland
- Flag Inn, St. Osyth, Essex
- Flat Howe (1), Sleights Moor, Sleights, North Yorkshire
- Flat Howe (2), Sleights Moor, Sleights, North Yorkshire
- Foel Fawr, Llanfechell, Anglesey
- Ford, Kilmartin, Argyll
- Fox Hill, Lowthorpe, East Yorkshire
- Frensham Common, Frensham, Surrey
- Galley Hill, Streatley, Bedfordshire
- Garadh Ban, Buchanan, Stirlingshire
- Gariob Cottage, Achnamara, Knapdale, Argyll
- Gask Hill, Collessie, Fife
- Ghost’s Knowe, St. Ninians, Stirlingshire
- Giant’s Grave, Reelig, Kirkhill, Inverness-shire
- Giant’s Grave, Tweedsmuir, Peeblesshire
- Giants’ Graves, Halton Gill, North Yorkshire
- Giant’s Knowe, Culloch, Muthill, Perthshire
- Glen Cochill Cairnfield (01), Little Dunkeld, Perthshire
- Glen Cochill Cairnfield (02), Little Dunkeld, Perthshire
- Glen Cochill Cairnfield (03), Little Dunkeld, Perthshire
- Glencreggan, Glenbarr, Kintyre, Argyll
- Glenrickard, Brodick, Arran, Argyll
- Glenshervie Burn, Glen Almond, Perthshire
- Gough’s Barrow, Long Compton, Warwickshire
- Graffa Plain, Brimham Rocks, Hartwith, North Yorkshire
- Great Skirtful of Stones, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Great Skirtful Ring, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Green Crag Top Cairns, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Green Howe, North Deighton, North Yorkshire
- Grubstones Circle, Burley Moor – see Roms Law, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Hades Hill, Whitworth, Lancashire
- Hagg Woods, Thongsbridge, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
- Hamilton Farm, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire
- Harden Moor Cairnfield, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Harden Moor Circle, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Hare Hill, Elslack, North Yorkshire
- Harlaw, Fairnington, Roxburghshire
- Hatfield Barrow, Marden, Wiltshire
- Haulgh, Bolton, Lancashire
- Hawk Hill, Alloa, Clackmannanshire
- Hawksworth Moor (01), West Yorkshire
- Hawksworth Moor (02), West Yorkshire
- Hawksworth Moor (03), West Yorkshire
- Hazell Circle, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire (NEW FIND)
- Heights Farm, Quernmore, Lancashire
- Heligar Pike, Denton Moor, North Yorkshire
- Heyshaw Moor (north), Dacre, North Yorkshire
- High Close Cairn, Grassington, North Yorkshire
- High Low Ridge, Askwith Moor, North Yorkshire
- High Marchup, Silsden, West Yorkshire
- High Woof Howe, Langdale Forest, North Yorkshire
- High Street Barrow, Towthorpe, East Yorkshire
- Higher Town Bay, St. Martin’s, Scilly Isles
- Ilkley Gate, Ilkley Moor – Cairn Circles (NEW FIND)
- Intake Lodge, Yearsley, North Yorkshire
- Invercharnan, Glen Etive, Argyll
- Jack Straw’s Castle, Kilmington, Wiltshire
- Jeppe Knave Grave, Wiswell, Lancashire
- Judge’s Cairn, Dunblane, Perthshire
- Keighley Train Station, West Yorkshire
- Kemp Howe, Sledmere, East Yorkshire
- Kerrycrusach, Bute, Argyll
- King’s Yett, St. Ninians, Stirlingshire
- Kinpurnie, Newtyle, Angus
- Kippenross House, Dunblane, Stirlingshire
- Kirkshaws, Old Monkland, Lanarkshire
- Kit’s Coty House, Aylesford, Kent
- Langside Farm, Lanark, Lanarkshire
- Lanshaw Cairn 01, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Lanshaw Cairn 02, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Lanshaw Cairn 03, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Larkfield, Maidstone, Kent
- Law Knowe, Niddrie, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Lea Green, Grassington, North Yorkshire
- Leaf Howe, Stape, North Yorkshire
- Leathad Carnaich, Dalhalvaig, Caithness
- Lentran, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire
- Lexden, Colchester, Essex
- Limekiln Field, Pytchley, Northamptonshire
- Lippersley Pike, Denton Moor, North Yorkshire
- Little Skirtful of Stones, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Loch of Blairs, Forres, Moray
- Longbarrow Field, Timble, North Yorkshire
- Long Man’s Grave, Abernyte, Perthshire
- Long Skelpick, Bettyhill, Strathnaver, Sutherland
- Lower Apronful of Stones, Pendle Hill, Lancashire
- Lower Glovershaw, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
- Lower Headley Farm, Thornton, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Lower Higham Farm, Hyde, Lancashire
- Low Woof Howe, Langdale Forest, North Yorkshire
- Lyneham Barrow, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire
- MacRee’s Cairn, Glen Meurain, Fortingall, Perthshire
- Manse Bridge, Melness, Tongue, Sutherland
- Manton Down, Rockley, Marlborough, Wiltshire
- Marriotts Barrows, Hyde, Lancashire
- Merlin’s Grave, Drumelzier, Peeblesshire
- Merlin’s Mount, Marlborough, Wiltshire
- Millbarrow, Winterbourne Monkton, Wiltshire
- Miller’s Grave, Midgley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Mill Hill, Eastburn, Driffield, East Yorkshire
- Mini-Skirtful of Stones, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Minning Low, Aldwark, Derbyshire
- Moor Hey, Weeton, Lancashire
- Mount Pleasant, Normanby, North Yorkshire
- Mount Skip, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
- Mount Zion, Illingworth, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Mutlow Hill, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire
- Nanny Howe, Coate Moor, Kildale, North Yorkshire
- Nanny’s Grave, Steeton, West Yorkshire
- Nether Glenny (01), Port of Menteith, Perthshire
- Nether Glenny (02), Port of Menteith, Perthshire
- Newmarket Heath (1), Newmarket – see Ninescore Hill
- Newmarket Heath (2), Newmarket, Suffolk
- Newmarket Heath (3), Newmarket, Suffolk
- Newmarket Heath (4), Newmarket, Suffolk
- Newmarket Heath (5), Swaffam Prior, Cambridgeshire
- Ninescore Hill, Newmarket, Suffolk
- Ninewells, Caputh, Perthshire
- Nixon’s Station, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
- North Hill, Samson, Scilly Isles, Cornwall
- The Old Pike, Beamsley Moor, North Yorkshire
- Old Pleck, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
- Oliver Cromwell’s Hill, Eye, Cambridgeshire
- Oliver’s Mound, Richmond, Surrey
- Ossian’s Stone, Sma’ Glen, Fowlis Wester, Perthshire
- Overton Down Tomb, West Overton, Wiltshire
- Parsons Lane, Silsden, West Yorkshire – see High Marchup
- Pen Howe (1), Sleights Moor, Sleights, North Yorkshire
- Pen Howe (2), Sleights Moor, Sleights, North Yorkshire
- Pendreich 1, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire
- Pendreich 2, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire
- Pendreich 3, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire
- Pennythorn Hill, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
- Perces, Halstead, Essex
- Pike Lowe, Extwistle, Burnley, Lancashire
- Pleasington Cemetery, Blackburn, Lancashire
- Pool Farm, Priddy, Somerset
- Portmore Loch, Eddleston, Peeblesshire
- Port na Cleire, Gigha, Argyll
- Pudding Pie Hill, Thirsk, North Yorkshire
- Pule Hill, Marsden, West Yorkshire
- Queen’s Cairn, Farr, Strathnaver, Sutherland
- Quernhow, Ainderby Quernhow, North Yorkshire
- Reddicar Clough, Hallam Moor, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Ringstone Edge, Barkisland, West Yorkshire
- Rockcliff Beacon, Boulby – see The Falls (1)
- Rolleston’s Barrow, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
- Roms Law, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Round Hill, Middleton Moor, North Yorkshire
- Round Hill Field, Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire
- Ruston Beacon, Ruston Parva, East Yorkshire
- Rye Loaf Hill, Settle, North Yorkshire
- St. John’s Green, Colchester, Essex
- St. Medan’s Knowe, Kirkton of Airlie, Angus
- St. Serf’s Water, Crieff, Perthshire
- Sauchie, Stirling, Stirlingshire
- Scale House, Rylstone, North Yorkshire
- Seaty Hill, Malham Moor, North Yorkshire
- Serpent Mound, Scallasaig, Glen More, Inverness-shire
- Shaman’s Cairn, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Shaw Hill, Skirtcoat, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Shawfield, Rutherglen, Lanarkshire
- Sheep Scar Cairn, Giggleswick, North Yorkshire
- Sheep Scar Cairn Circle, Giggleswick, North Yorkshire
- Sheriff Hill, Malham, North Yorkshire
- Silver Hill, Stanbury, West Yorkshire
- Simon Howe, Goathland, North Yorkshrie
- Sithean Mor, Shian, Iona, Argyll
- Skirtful of Stones, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire
- Slade Cairnfield, Blubberhouses Moor, North Yorkshire
- Snowden Crags Circle, Askwith Moor, North Yorkshire
- Snowden Crags Necropolis, Timble, North Yorkshire
- Southdown Cottage, Cotmandene, Dorking, Surrey
- South Wonston, Hampshire
- Spell Howe, Folkton, East Yorkshire
- Staple Howe, Kirklington, North Yorkshire
- Stapley Hill, Kirklington – see Staple Howe, Kirklington North Yorkshire
- Stone Man, Kirkby Ravensworth, North Yorkshire
- Stoney Raise, Addlebrough, Thornton Rust, North Yorkshire
- Stoodley Pike Circle, Mankinholes, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
- Strowan, Crieff, Perthshire
- Swinkly Knoll, Egglesburn, Durham
- Tarbert, Argyll
- Thieveley, Holme Chapel, Burnley, Lancashire
- Toad Stones, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
- Todholes (01), Fintry Hills, Stirlingshire
- Todholes (02), Fintry Hills, Stirlingshire
- Tomb Stone, Stanbury Hill, Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Tongue House, Tongue, Sutherland
- Torrisholme Barrow, Morecambe, Lancashire
- Tower Hill, Warley, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Town Lane, St. Mary’s, Scilly Isles, Cornwall
- Tulloch Knowe, Doune, Perthshire
- Tumble Beacon, Banstead, Surrey
- The Two Captains, Stetchworth, Cambridgeshire
- Two Lads, Withens Moor, Cragg Vale, West Yorkshire
- Upper Killay, Killay, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales
- Warlocks’ Tomb, Muckhart, Clackmannanshire
- West Lodge, Touch, Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire
- Whispering Knights, Rollright, Oxfordshire
- White Cairn, Glen Cochill – see Carn Ban
- Wicking Crag, Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Wimbledon Common, Wimbledon, Surrey
- Winterborne Came 18b, Bincombe, Dorset
- Witch Hillock, Maryland, Kincardineshire
- Woodhenge Circle (1), Durrington, Wiltshire
- Woodhenge Circle (2), Durrington, Wiltshire
- Woodhenge Circle (3), Durrington, Wiltshire
- Woodhenge Circle (4), Durrington, Wiltshire
- Woofa Bank Cairn, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Wytchley Warren, Edith Weston, Rutland