Cat Stones

The Cat Stones is the name of an archaeological site situated on Rishworth moor in the county of West Yorkshire, near to the peak of Dog Hill. The moor, an area of outstanding natural beauty and home to many rare animals, houses the site of a series of ancient round barrow burial sites. The largest of these barrows, barrow no.1, contains two large upright stones which create what would have been a small window into the chamber from the north-east. Barrows of this kind are usually assumed to date from the neolithic or bronze age period.

The word 'Cat' probably has little to do with the English word and is more likely related to the modern Welsh 'Cath' meaning 'battle'. It could therefore be the case that the larger of the burial chambers was erected for the purpose of burying someone of some importance who had died in battle there. The other smaller chambers around barrow no.1 might well have been constructed at a later date as is often the case with such sites.

Nearby is also a cairn of stones sitting upon a large mound which, as far as modern records show, has never been excavated. There is also a rudimentary stone circle nearby, but as the stones are quite small, and sit upon the ground rather than submerged by it, it can only be assumed that this is a fake of extremely recent origin.

A number of neolithic and Bronze Age tools and weapon heads have been found in and around this area.

References

1. [http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/leisure/localhistory/ancient-monuments/index.html Calderdale Ancient Sites Register]
2. [http://www.northernearth.co.uk/cindex0.htm Northern Earth]
3. [http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/8850 The Modern Antiquarian]