You are standing on a small area of upland known as Stanton Moor. The area is known for its prehistoric archaeology and contains four stone circles (most famously the Nine Ladies) and more than 70 barrows. In fact, the moor is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Many early archaeologists came digging at Stanton Moor, opening up barrows to see what they could find. Objects travelled all over the country to be studied, including many fine examples of bronze age pottery. Some of these pots were placed with the dead, such as small ‘incense’ cups. Others, such as large cinerary urns, held the cremated remains of the dead themselves.
During the Bronze Age some people were buried in barrows – mounds of earth and stone. Sometimes the bodies were cremated first and placed in a pot. The people buried may have been important members of society, or chosen to represent family groups. Some barrows were used over many generations. It is significant to find so many barrows in one place. Just one of the reasons that Stanton Moor is so special.