Worsell Wood cairn cemetery

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of a prehistoric cairn cemetery, probably dating to the Bronze Age (c.2300 BC - 800 BC). The cemetery contains the remains of three round cairns, situated within woodland along the spine of the summit of Worsell Wood, the prominent central hill within the small basin to the N of the Hergest Ridge. The cairn cemetery was originally scheduled in 1996; however, the area covered by the original designation did not relate accurately to the remains on the ground. The scheduled area has been revised in order to rectify the original designation. The cairn situated on the NE of the group (Item C) is circular on plan and measures about 6.5m in diameter and up to about 0.7m in height. Although small, this cairn occupies a prominent position and would once have boasted extensive views. The central cairn (Item A) is situated about 100m to the SW and occupies a central position on the ridge. It is circular on plan and measures about 11m in diameter and about 1.1m in height. There is a smaller mound situated immediately adjacent to the cairn - this is probably clearance or robbing from the larger cairn. A further cairn (Item B) is situated on the SW end of the ridge. It is circular on plan and measures about 7.5m in diameter and up to about 0.5m in height.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. The features are important relics of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retain significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of both intact burial or ritual deposits and environmental and structural evidence. The importance of the monument is further enhanced by the group value formed by the association of the individual cairns within the cemetery.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. Area A (SO 25857 57812) is circular and measures 24m in diameter. Area B (SO 25830 57799) is circular and measures 22m in diameter. Area C (SO 25946 57903) is circular and measures 16m in diameter.