The base stone of the cist had been taken to the Wiltshire Conservation Service laboratory in Chippenham to have the grave’s contents investigated by micro excavation. It was during this process that excitement mounted as more and more unique artefacts were uncovered.
The side and cover stones were left at the site and on Monday 12 December, with the help of a MOD all terrain vehicle, the base stone was returned to Whitehorse Hill.
Whilst the contents of the cist are currently the subject of scientific study and remain the cause of much interest nationally, the site and its stones are now able to be seen by walkers happy to make the trek out to the site.
The project was jointly funded by the Dartmoor National Park Authority and English Heritage, with 
contributions from a number of other local funders including the Dartmoor Trust, Dartmoor Preservation Association, Duchy of Cornwall, Devon County Council, Dr Jeremy Butler and Helpful Holidays.
The project was managed by Dartmoor National Park Authority with excavation work being carried out by archaeologists from the Historic Environment Projects Team, Cornwall Council, led by Andrew Jones, with assistance from English Heritage and Plymouth University specialists.
Andrew Jones, Excavation Director, Historic Environment Projects, Cornwall Council
Tel: 01872 323691
Helen Williams, Senior Conservator, Wiltshire Conservation Service
Tel: 01249 705554
The cist, located within peat at 600m altitude on one of Dartmoor’s highest tors, offered high potential for good preservation of any remaining contents. The excavation also provided an opportunity to better understand archaeological preservation within upland peat at a time of change in upland management.
The cist’s isolated location and elevated position well away from other known archaeology was unusual. This also caused some logistical problems in getting the necessary equipment and archaeologists up to the site. The MOD was of great help providing transport and the use of their observation post on Hangingstone Hill as an overnight store during the excavation phase.
In carrying out this work, we are also required to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Park.
For maps, guide books, trail guides, clothing and other Dartmoor merchandise visit Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Online Shop
15 November 2011 <h1>Prehistoric Dartmoor burial reveals nationally important remains</h1>
<p><img src="http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/__data/assets/image/0018/162531/20111115DNPA-PR-JM-White-horse-Hill-cist-excavations-5.jpg" alt="Whitehorse Hill cist" class="marginBottom marginRight" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" height="225" width="300" align="left" />An excavation, co-ordinated by Dartmoor National Park Authority, has discovered a nationally important collection of Early Bronze Age remains in a burial site situated in Dartmoor National Park. The discovery could prove to be one of the most important archaeological finds of the last 100 years nationally.</p>
<p>The excavation has revealed that cremated human bone (see image bottom left) and burnt textile was placed within an animal hide or fur on top of a very thin leather and textile object, itself placed above a mat of plant material. At one end of the fur/ hide was a delicate woven bag or basket with fine stitching still visible. The contents inside included beautifully preserved shale disc beads, amber spherical beads (see image bottom right) and a circular textile band. A further layer of matted plant material covered these objects.</p>
<p>The burial cist was excavated in August 2011 and was located on Whitehorse Hill, northern Dartmoor, on<img src="http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/__data/assets/image/0018/162540/20111115-DNPA-PR-JM-White-horse-Hill-cist-excavations-lifting-the-lid17.jpg" alt="Whitehorse Hill excavation" class="marginLeft marginBottom" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" height="225" width="300" align="right" /> land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. The work was carried out by archaeologists from the Historic Environment Projects Team, Cornwall Council, led by Andrew Jones, with assistance from English Heritage (EH) and Plymouth University specialists.</p>
<p>The project was jointly funded by the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) and English Heritage, with contributions from a number of other local funders.</p>
<p>Cists are stone built chests which are used for the burial of cremations or inhumations, and are found in the south west of England and elsewhere but are rarely found with their original contents. Some 200 cists are known on Dartmoor. They may be sunk into the ground or positioned in barrows or mounds. On Dartmoor the Whitehorse Hill cist is the only known example set within a peat mound.</p>
<p>The cist was first discovered over 10 years ago when what appeared to be its end stone fell out of the peat mound which had been concealing it. Since that time the peat has slowly eroded away from the sides and the top of the peat mound. After several attempts to protect the cist, a Scheduled Monument, the decision was taken by the DNPA and EH to excavate it in order to recover any surviving archaeological and environmental information before the site and its context were lost. This was the first excavation of a Dartmoor cist for nearly one hundred years.</p>
<p>Located within peat at 600m altitude on one of Dartmoor’s highest tors, the cist offered high potential for good preservation of any remaining contents and an opportunity to better understand archaeological preservation within upland peat at a time of change in upland management.</p>
<p>The cist’s isolated location and elevated position well away from other known archaeology was unusual. This also caused some logistical problems in getting the necessary equipment and archaeologists up to the site. The Ministry of Defence was of great help providing transport and the use of its Observation Post on Hangingstone Hill as an overnight store.</p>
<p>During the late afternoon, three days into the excavation, the stones of the cist were dismantled and the large cover stone (measuring 0.8 x 0.6m) removed. This revealed a burial deposit lying in situ on the base stone of the cist. Visible remains included bone fragments, a shale bead and what appeared to be hair or fur. Two sharpened wooden stakes were also discovered outside the cist, one lying horizontally against one of the side walls and the other still vertically placed into the peat against one of the end stones. </p>
<p> <img src="http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/__data/assets/image/0009/162549/20111115-DNPA-PR-WiltsCS-Whitehorse-Hill-cremated-bone.jpg" alt="Whitehorse Hill cremated bone" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" height="199" width="300" /><img src="http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/__data/assets/image/0019/162550/20111115-DNPA-PR-Wilts-Cist-close-up-of-beads-found-under-woven-object.jpg" alt="Whitehorse Hill beads" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" height="248" width="300" align="right" /></p>
<p>It was immediately evident that micro-excavation in controlled conditions was essential as, once exposed, the organic remains were very vulnerable.</p>
<p>The entire deposit, including the granite base stone was wrapped and transported to the Wiltshire Conservation Service laboratory where ‘micro excavation’ has taken place, revealing a wealth of information that does not normally survive in most burials on drier soils.</p>
<p>Jane Marchand, Senior Archaeologist for Dartmoor National Park Authority and Whitehorse Hill Project Manager, said:</p>
<p>'This is a most unusual and fascinating glimpse into what an early Bronze Age grave goods assemblage on Dartmoor might have looked like when it was buried, including the personal possessions of people living on the Moor around 4,000 years ago.'</p>
<p>A programme of analysis will now follow to examine the peat surrounding the cist. Studies of pollen, other plant remains and testate amoebae (microscopic single cell organisms) supported by radio carbon dating will provide evidence of vegetation and climate at the time of the burial.</p>
<p>There is also much specialist analysis to be carried out on the different items within the cist burial before conservation work can begin stabilising the finds under controlled conditions. This will allow further examination and study of the objects to find out how they were made and the materials used around 4000 years ago.</p>
<p>It is planned to rebuild the cist and reinstate it in the spot where it was found.</p>
<p>Ends
<br /></p> <h2>For further information from Dartmoor National Park Authority</h2>
<p><a href="mailto:jmarchand@dartmoor.gov.uk">Jane Marchand</a>, Senior Archaeologist and Whitehorse Hill Project Manager</p>
<p><a href="mailto:mnendick@dartmoor.gov.uk">Mike Nendick</a>, Communications Officer</p>
<p>Dartmoor National Park Authority</p>
<p>Tel: 01626 832093</p> <h2>For information from English Heritage</h2>
<p>Phil McMahon, Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Dartmoor
<br /> Tel: 0117 9750699</p>
<p>Vanessa Straker, Science Advisor for South West England
<br /> Tel: 0117 975 0689</p>
<p>Jonathan Last, Head of Research (Prehistory)
<br /> Tel: 02392 856732</p>
<p>Simon Mays, Human bone specialist
<br /> Tel: 02392 856779</p>
<p>Renée Fok, Press Officer
<br /> Tel: 020 7973 3297</p> <h2>Further information can also be obtained from:</h2>
<p>Andrew Jones, Excavation Director, Historic Environment Projects, Cornwall Council
<br /> Tel: 01872 323691</p>
<p>Helen Williams, Senior Conservator, Wiltshire Conservation Service
<br /> Tel: 01249 705554</p> <h2>Notes for Editors</h2>
<p>Images copyright Dartmoor National Park Authority and Wiltshire Conservation Service.</p>
<p>The project was jointly funded by Dartmoor National Park Authority and English Heritage, with contributions from a number of other local funders.</p>
<p>These include the Dartmoor Trust, Dartmoor Preservation Association, Duchy of Cornwall, Devon County Council, Dr Jeremy Butler and Helpful Holidays.</p>
<p>Dartmoor National Park Authority’s purposes under the Environment Act 1995 are:</p> <ul> <li>to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park;</li> <li>to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area by the public.</li> </ul>
<p>In carrying out this work, we are also required to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Park.</p>
<p><a href="../dartmoor-needs-you/?a=50149">Agendas</a> for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Dartmoor National Park Authority planning meetings are available on the Authority's web site.You can receive an e-mail notification each time a News Release is issued by the Dartmoor National Park Authority. <a href="../dartmoor-to-you-at-devon-county-show/?a=62882">Subscribe to Dartmoor National park Authority News</a>.
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<p>For News Releases from all UK National Parks visit <a href="http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/" target="_blank">www.nationalparks.gov.uk</a> (external link, opens new window)
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<p>For maps, guide books, trail guides, clothing and other Dartmoor merchandise visit Dartmoor National Park Authority’s <a href="http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/dnpa_shop/main.asp" target="_blank">Online Shop</a></p>
<p><strong>There are 15 members of the National Parks family in the UK: Brecon Beacons, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, Pembrokeshire Coast, Snowdonia, South Downs, Yorkshire Dales, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, the Cairngorms and the Broads. National Parks are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment. However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers. Over 34,500 people live in Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.</strong></p>
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The stones of the recently excavated Whitehorse Hill cist have been returned to their original location on northern Dartmoor by Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Archaeology and Conservation Works teams. The cist excavation revealed a collection of nationally important artefacts including beads, worked leather and textiles and cremated human remains.
Cists are stone built chests used for the burial of cremations or inhumations, and are found in the south west of England and elsewhere but are rarely found with their original contents. Some 200 cists are known on Dartmoor. They may be sunk into the ground or inserted into barrows or mounds. On Dartmoor the Whitehorse Hill cist is the only known example set within a peat mound.
