A 4,000-year-old Bronze Age burial mound known as Fire Beacon Cairn, located near Crowcombe on the Quantock Hills National Landscape in Somerset, has been vandalized. The damage was discovered by a local landowner on two separate occasions and reported to local rangers and Historic England. The cairn is a human-made structure formed of stacked stones, intended to mark a burial site. It was originally designed to be around 4.9 feet high and 82 feet in diameter. Iain Porter, head ranger for the Quantock Hills, emphasized the site’s historical significance, stating, "It's not a pile of stones — it's a very important historic site... showing the ceremonial nature of that landscape historically." The cairn is one of about 50 Scheduled Monuments across the hills, which are legally protected. It is illegal to move rocks or dig into the ground at these sites. Porter noted that archaeologists are particularly concerned because any valuable finds or dating materials would likely be found within the mound. Dr. Richard Brunning, a senior historic environment officer at the South West Heritage Trust, described the damage as "especially worrying." He said, "They've survived this long, it'd be terrible just to be destroyed on someone's whim." He highlighted the cairn’s importance as an "important relic of this very distant past," explaining that such sites are crucial for understanding ancient human life. Scientists can study human remains found in these mounds, including DNA, to learn more about past populations. A spokesperson for Historic England mentioned that the cairn had only recently been repaired after being vandalized two years ago. They urged the public to remain vigilant and report any further damage to Historic England and the Quantock Hills National Landscape team. The latest damage occurred "last week, and again over the weekend." A spokesperson noted that the prehistoric landscape of the Quantock Hills is a key feature, with over 50 Scheduled Monuments. Damage to these sites is a criminal offense, and it is illegal to move rocks, dig, or use metal detectors there. Porter, manager of the Quantock Hills National Landscape Team, expressed concern over the damage to the Scheduled Monument, stating that these sites form a network helping to understand the ceremonial importance of the hills from the Neolithic period through the Bronze and Iron Ages. He added that the team is working with the landowner and partners from Historic England and the South West Heritage Trust to assess the damage and repair the site.