Pikestones

Pikestones is the remains of a Neolithic Burial Cairn, located on Anglezarke moor in Lancashire [1]. The site is approximately 150 feet long and 60 feet across at its widest point [1]. It consisted of one burial chamber constructed of large upright slabs, capped by two lintel slabs, forming a chamber of 15 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet high, covered by a huge mound of stones and turves [1]. The cairn was aligned almost exactly North-South, with the burial chamber under the wider northern end [1]. Today the cairn has been badly robbed and the main features are the five large gritstone slabs, the remains of the burial chamber [1]. Pikestones is the earliest man-made structure in the area and only one other chambered tomb has been found in Lancashire [1]. 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 [1].