Whitehorse Cist, Dartmoor Forest, Devon: Excavation (OASIS ID: cornwall2-107036)

The project was for the targeted excavation and recording of the Whitehorse cist on Dartmoor (SX 6172 8547). This project comprised the excavation of a cist on Dartmoor which was eroding out of a natural peat mound. The cist was found to contain an exceptional variety of artefacts which were micro-excavated under laboratory conditions. This was followed by the analysis of a wide range of organic artefacts, many of which were rare or previously unknown in a British Bronze Age context. The peat mound into which the cist was set also proved to contain a wealth of environmental material. The findings from the site have proved to be of national, if not indeed international significance. The project was carried out between August 2011 and October 2015 by the Dartmoor National Park Authority in partnership with the Historic Environment Service Projects team (now Cornwall Archaeological Unit), Cornwall Council. The project was funded by English Heritage (now Historic England) through the National Heritage Protection Commissions Programme.