Reasons for Designation
An enclosed Bronze Age urnfield is a burial ground in which cremations,
usually placed in cinerary urns, were interred within a circular enclosure up
to 30m in diameter. This was formed by either a ditch, a bank, or a bank
within a stone circle. There was normally an entrance or causeway allowing
access into the enclosure, where a central mound or standing stone is
sometimes found. Excavated examples are known to date to the Middle Bronze Age
between the 16th and 11th centuries BC. Enclosed Bronze Age urnfields are
largely found in the north of England, mainly in Yorkshire, Cumbria and
Northumberland, although their distribution also extends into Scotland. They
are a rare type of Bronze Age burial monument, with fewer than 50 identified
examples and provide an important insight into beliefs and social organisation
during this period. All positively identified examples are considered to be
nationally important
Details
The monument includes an enclosed Bronze Age urnfield. It is situated on
Todmorden Golf Course 200m north west of Hanging Field Farm.
The urnfield is approximately 37m in diameter and has a low, subcircular,
enclosing bank. This bank is about 7m wide and up to 0.5m high, and is visibly
crossed by medieval ridge and furrow running approximately north-south. The
bank survives best on the east side; on the north side it is only present as a
slight rise.
The interior of the urnfield was excavated in 1897 and produced four cinerary
urns containing human bone, beads, a bronze knife, and flint tools.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31492
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
