Round Loaf EarthCache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Round Loaf is a Neolithic or Bronze Age tumulus. It is the
largest of its type in the North West of England, dating back 3500
years. Known as a Round Barrow, it probably contains the cremated
remains of the leader of a tribe which once made this lonely spot
their home.
Please prepare your route carefully. Due to its isolated location
no official excavation has yet taken place - although this may be
about to change. It's part of the West Pennine Moors Action Plan to
improve access to this fantastic site, which I'm not sure I agree
with because it'll only end up getting wrecked (whinge moan!). This
is probably the most remote area of the whole moors and has a
unique "aura".
Routes
Walking "As The Crow Flies" is not recommended. There is a path
from Lead Mines Clough to Shooting Huts (see waypoint) then to the
cache. This is the route I know, and its pretty
straightforward.
Beneath the soil type you are questioned about below is an
underlying section of Millstone Grit. Coarse sand in the nearby
quarries was produced by earthquakes millions of years ago. Lead
ore was later deposited, and grey/black fine shale sediments were
deposited in deep sea water. Clay and pebbles were brought by ice
from the Lake District and SW Scotland, and are visible also.
To log this earth cache, you will need to provide the following
information :
* What is the primary soil type surrounding Round Loaf?
* What is the approximate diameter of Round Loaf (metres, feet or
strides will suffice)
* How tall is Round Loaf? (Hint - use the elevation reading on your
GPS)
* Please take a photograph of yourself / your GPS at the site
* The site is Neolithic, how many thousands of years ago could this
be?
Please email all answers to me, do not post on this
listing!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)