Burnt mound, 1km north-east of Quarry House

Reasons for Designation

A burnt mound is an accumulation of burnt (fire-crazed) stones, ash and charcoal, usually sited next to a river or lake. On excavation, some form of trough or basin capable of holding water is normally found in close association with the mound. The size of the mound can vary considerably; small examples may be under 0.5m high and less than 10m in diameter, larger examples may exceed 3m in height and be 35m in diameter. The shape of the mound ranges from circular to crescentic. The associated trough or basin may be found within the body of the mound or, more usually, immediately adjacent to it. At sites which are crescentic in shape the trough is normally found within the `arms' of the crescent and the mound has the appearance of having developed around it. The main phase of use of burnt mounds spans the Early, Middle and Late Bronze Age, a period of around 1000 years. The function of the mounds has been a matter of some debate, but it appears that cooking, using heated stones to boil water in a trough or tank, is the most likely use. Some excavated sites have revealed several phases of construction, indicating that individual sites were used more than once. Burnt mounds are found widely scattered throughout the British Isles, with around 100 examples identified in England. As a rare monument type which provides an insight into life in the Bronze Age, all well-preserved examples will normally be identified as nationally important.

The burnt mound north-east of Quarry House survives well. Burnt mounds are rare monuments in northern England, with less than a dozen recorded examples and this one is an important addition to their number.

Details

The monument includes a burnt mound of prehistoric date, situated on the edge of the Throckrington Burn. Originally the burn flowed to the east of the mound but its course has been diverted and it presently flows to the west. The mound is roughly oval in shape and measures 13m by 12m. It stands to a maximum height of 1m at the centre. It has a level top and there are traces of a kerb of burnt stones around the summit; other burnt stones are eroding from the mound into the stream.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

21030

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Cowley, D, Archaeologia Aeliana 5 ser 19 in Some burnt mounds in Mid Northumberland, (1991), 119-121
Davies, J, Davidson, J, Northern Archaeology vol 9 1988-89 in A Survey of Bolam and Shaftoe area, Northumberland, (1990), 74
Hedley, R C, Archaeologia Aeliana 2 ser 12 in Archaeologia Aeliana 2 ser 12, (1887), 155-8

Other
NY 98 SE 05,

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