Pikestones is the remains of a Neolithic Burial Cairn, located on Anglezarke moor in Lancashire, England. The site is approximately 150 feet (45 metres) long and 60 feet (18 metres) across at its widest point. It consisted of one burial chamber constructed of large upright slabs, capped by two lintel slabs, forming a chamber of 15 feet (4.5 metres) long, 3 feet (0.9 metres) wide and 3 feet (0.9 metres) high, covered by a huge mound of stones and turves. The cairn was aligned almost exactly North-South, with the burial chamber under the wider northern end. At the northern edge of the cairn, a double wall could be made out, curving inwards to form an entrance to a forecourt.
Today the cairn has been badly robbed and the main features are the five large gritstone slabs, the remains of the burial chamber.
Surprisingly, evidence suggests that the bodies were not interred directly in the tomb, but were left outside, perhaps at the entrance to the cairn, for birds and wild animals to consume the flesh and then, probably after elaborate ceremonies, the bones were placed inside the chamber.
Pikestones is the earliest man-made structure in the area and only one other chambered tomb has been found in Lancashire. The monument must have taken an immense amount of labour to construct and like most long barrows was erected in a prominent position, located on a ridge at a height of just over 900 feet (276 metres). This gave the neolithic builders excellent views, and made the structure visible from a wide area of the Lancashire plain, perhaps warning other people that the land belonged to the builders.
pikestones, remains, neolithic, burial, cairn, located, anglezarke, moor, lancashire, england, site, approximately, feet, metres, long, feet, metres, across, widest, point, consisted, burial, chamber, constructed, large, upright, slabs, capped, lintel, slabs, . Pikestones is the remains of a Neolithic Burial Cairn located on Anglezarke moor in Lancashire England The site is approximately 150 feet 45 metres long and 60 feet 18 metres across at its widest point It consisted of one burial chamber constructed of large upright slabs capped by two lintel slabs forming a chamber of 15 feet 4 5 metres long 3 feet 0 9 metres wide and 3 feet 0 9 metres high covered by a huge mound of stones and turves The cairn was aligned almost exactly North South with the burial chamber under the wider northern end At the northern edge of the cairn a double wall could be made out curving inwards to form an entrance to a forecourt PikestonesPikestones looking southLocationnear Anglezarke and ChorleyRegionLancashire EnglandCoordinates53 38 59 86 N 2 33 56 78 W 53 6499611 N 2 5657722 W 53 6499611 2 5657722 Coordinates 53 38 59 86 N 2 33 56 78 W 53 6499611 N 2 5657722 W 53 6499611 2 5657722TypeChambered cairnHistoryPeriodsNeolithicSite notesConditionsome damageToday the cairn has been badly robbed and the main features are the five large gritstone slabs the remains of the burial chamber Surprisingly evidence suggests that the bodies were not interred directly in the tomb but were left outside perhaps at the entrance to the cairn for birds and wild animals to consume the flesh and then probably after elaborate ceremonies the bones were placed inside the chamber Pikestones is the earliest man made structure in the area and only one other chambered tomb has been found in Lancashire The monument must have taken an immense amount of labour to construct and like most long barrows was erected in a prominent position located on a ridge at a height of just over 900 feet 276 metres This gave the neolithic builders excellent views and made the structure visible from a wide area of the Lancashire plain perhaps warning other people that the land belonged to the builders See also EditRound Loaf Scheduled monuments in LancashireReferences Edit Pikestones Megalithic Portal External links EditPikestones page on The Modern Antiquarian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pikestones amp oldid 1115187993, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
