A significant 5,000-year-old monument, recognized as one of the earliest visible structures in England, is set to receive increased protection. The Dudderhouse Hill long cairn, located in the Yorkshire Dales, has officially been granted “scheduled monument” status by the government, marking it as a site of national importance and enhancing its legal safeguards.
The long cairn, dating back to approximately 3,400-2,400BC, is considered one of the earliest communal constructions by humans. It holds substantial historical value, providing insights into the lives, deaths, and beliefs of early farming communities. Paul Jeffery, the national listings manager at Historic England, emphasizes its significance, stating, “This time was the beginning of everything.”
Though the monument might appear as a simple pile of stones, its survival for so long is a testament to its robust construction and
original robustness in the landscape. The cairn’s remarkable preservation sheds light on its potential use as a communal or ceremonial space, likely integral to the communal identity of its builders, serving purposes such as marking ancestral territory or ceremonial gatherings.
The long cairn, which may have also been used for seasonal tracking or as a funeral site, faces damage from occasional stone removal, often unintentional. The “scheduled monument” status aims to prevent such harm by offering the highest level of protection available, allowing authorities to bolster educational efforts about the site’s importance and ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Duncan Wilson, the chief executive of Historic England, commended the scheduling, saying, “Scheduling this remarkable neolithic long cairn ensures that this rare and fragile piece of our prehistoric heritage receives the protection it deserves.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/24/neolithic-long-cairn-north-yorkshire-extra-legal-protection
