Sep 27

Thornborough Henges, North Yorkshire

Thornborough Ancient Monument Complex – North Yorkshire

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A site that spans several thousands of years from the Stone Age to at least the Iron Age, the ancient people of the area built one of Britain’s largest ancient sites in Yorkshire, in what was to become the heart of Brigantia.

Location Details.

Thornborough TimeLine

Mesolithic – c. 8,000 to 4,000BC

The Mesolithic period was the end of the Stone Age “hunter gather” times, before the widespread development of agriculture. During this time Thornborough appears to have been one of Britain’s earliest “ritual” locations. To the north of the village of Nosterfield, on the quarry in 2002/3 there was discovered an extensive double pit alignment that has been proven by carbon dating to be of Mesolithic date.

This is a very important discovery, since there are no known double pit alignments from this period anywhere else in the world and shows is potentially Britain’s first communal religious structure.

Mid-Neolithic Age – 4,000BC to 3,500 BC

In the Mid Neolithic period, accross Britain farming practices were beginning to be established and the old hunter gatherer ways were giving way to a more settled existence. In addition the first communal ritual monuments were being built.

At Thornborough, the ritual activities begun in the Mesolithic were dramatically expanded as large areas of land were cleared in order to make way for long cigar shaped cursus enclosures. These were built by digging a ditch to define the cigar shaped space, the earth from the ditch was then heaped outside the ditch to create an enclosing earth bank.

Whilst only one cursus has been confirmed, it would appear that Thornborough had three cursuses, two close to the henges and another to the west at Upsland.

The largest cursus at Thornborough runs beneath the central henge and stretches for 1.2 km. This ceremonial avenue, was discovered from the air. It appears to be bent, travelling in two directions roughly NE/SW. The western section, now mostly quarried out has recently been announced as being aligned to the setting point of the constellation Orion. This is another important part of the Thornborough Complex for it means this cursus may be the oldest known major monument aligned to the constellation Orion in the world.

Late Neolithic Age – c. 3,500 BC to 2,400BC

It was during this period that Thornborough saw a massive expansion of ritual activities, on a scale that indicates manpower was being drawn from far beyond to local area. Whilst it is probably that the construction work lasted for most of the Late Neolithic period and had many stages, it can be divided into two phases.

Phase I – the first henges.

Of these, the central one is the most accessible, the northern one is the best preserved (because it is protected from the plough by trees). Each circle, like those east of Ripon, has a maximum diameter of about 800 ft. They are all nearly circular, with entrances NW and SE. Each has a massive bank, originally about 10ft high, with a ditch inside and outside it, about 65ft. wide and 8 – 10ft deep. The outer ditch of each circle is now filled up by the ploughing. Broad spaces about 40ft wide separate the banks from their ditches – an architectural refinement nowhere else in England. On such a scale. These circles have been built in a straight line orientated NW/SE they are ½ mile apart.

Phase II – The creation of the henges we see today

Excavation in 1952 suggested that when first built each bank had been coated with a deposit of gypsum crystals in an attempt to whiten it. This may have been inspired by the blazing white if similar circles built in the chalk country of Wessex or the Wolds. The gypsum occurs in large deposits a few miles down the Ure.

Bronze Age

Iron Age Square Barrow uncovered close to a four horse burial from the same period, part of the ritual activities at Thornborough taking place in later times.

Iron Age

Roman and later

The Vale of Mowbray “super” monument complex

Whilst the Thornborough Complex is impressive enough, it is actually only one part of a much larger monument complex. In the Vale of Mowbray, from Borroughbridge to Catterick, Eight enormous sacred sites were built in an area over 20 miles long; among them at least 28 barrows were accumulated, together with seven henges, five cursuses and a very impressive alignment of standing stones. The most impressive henge monuments are the 3 Thornborough Circles.

The circles on Hutton Moor and at Cana are less impressive because they have been reduced by ploughing. They should be seen nevertheless, since they are part of a concentration of sacred sites unmatched in the N of England. Recently aerial photographs have revealed the remains of a third circle here, at Nunwick, still visible on the ground about SE/323747. This appears to be a smaller circle with no outer ditch, aligned on the 3 Thornborough Circles. Its diameter is 300ft. These sites must be contemporary with the Thornborough Circles. They are identical in design but their entrances are orientated N/S.

Many barrows can be found close to the circles – the resting places of those chiefs whose people worshipped there. Most are now sadly reduced by ploughing and their surrounding ditches cannot be seen. The Centre Hill barrow (SE/287791), between the central and southern Thornborough Circles is 90ft in diameter and 3ft high. A skeleton was found at its centre, buried in a wooden coffin and furnished with a food vessel and flint knife. There are 3 barrows close together (SE/286801) E of the northern Thornborough circle, S of B6267. One is 80ft in diameter and 31/2ft high, the others are 60ft across and 1ft high. They covered cremation burials. There are 3 badly damaged mounds NW of Hutton Grange (on A61), about SE/347755. These covered cremations, associated with incense cups and larger pots.

Sep 27

Pickhill Mound, North Yorkshire

Pickhill, North Yorkshire.


The hill is called Picts Hill. The vilage – Pickhill takes it’s name from this hill. Pickhill is in the Domesday book.

On the 1st edition OS there is a long mound and a short mound marked in the field next door, as well as some “mound foundations” and an earthwork. None of these are easily spotted today.

“A large artificial mound here, apparently raised for defensive purposes, bears the name of Picts’ Hill, and an improbable belief prevails that the Picts defeated the Romans in battle at a spot, not far off, called Roman Castle. This mound is also known as Money Hill, but, though partially cut away for the construction of the railway, the traditionary hidden treasure was not found.”

Bulmer’s History and Directory of North Yorkshire (1890)

“There is a large artificial mound at Pickhill called Pict’s Hill (or Money Hill), which now forms part of the railway embankment. Mr Longstaffe gives the following particulars, for which, he says, he is indebted to his friend M. M. Milburm, Esq., land agent, Thirsk. Mother Shipton is said to have prophesied that Pickhill would never thrive till a certain family became extinct, and Picks or Money Hill was cut open. Some years ago an old man dreamed that there was an archway in the hill, beneath which was a black chest, with three locks, containing the money which gives the name to the mound. Well, the family did become extinct in 1850, and the Leeds and Thirsk railway Company cut the hill open in 1851 – though it naturally formed part of its embankment, and their line passes over it. Still the directors ordered it to be excavated – the old man, the dreamer, was still alive, and pointed out the spot where the archway lay. The hill was cut through in all directions, but nothing was found, save in the foss, where portions of tile and a small brick, both vitrified on one side, and fragments of urns, and a piece of thin iron, like the crest of a helmet, were discovered. The mound was squarish, 113 by 80 feet, and surrounded by a moat.” Wellans History and Topogrphy of York and North Yorkshire. 1859.

Sep 27

Scorton Cursus, North Yorkshire

Scorton Cursus, North Yorkshire

Scorton Cursus marked in blue on the 1850’2 OS 1st Edition map.

The cursus was originally about 2.1km long and aligned SE-NW. Clustered round the monument were a number of ring ditches, one that was excavated had a single burial with a beaker. This would date the site as being in use from around 3,500BC until at least the Bronze Age c.2,000 BC.

The cursus was cut almost dead straight over it’s entire length and was 37.2m wide. The cursus was constructed by digging two parallel ditches 4.10m wide on the east side and 3.90m wide on the west.

Cursus monuments are thought of as “ceremonial ways” – avenues, carved though the landscape that created a sacred or ritual space. Often these are associated with water, and Scorton is no exception – it sits close by the River Swale and also sits in a remnant alluvial flood plane. At the time when Scorton Cursus was built, it is likely that it sat amongst a large number of lakes. These monuments are often given their “ritual” function due to the fact that burial mounds tend to be placed in close proximity to them.

Almost the entire site was destroyed by quarrying, very little record of it exists yet it is one of the first and largest “communal ritual structures” in the north of england.

Research Notes

“The excavation of a section accross the complete width of the cursus, now reduced to a cropmark, produced evidence from recut ditches of at least two major phases of use. The first was indicated by narrow almost V-profiled ditches, which, having silted, were recut to a wide and shallow form. A low mound of indeterminate shape, possibly upcast from the ditches, was situated in the centre of the cursus, while a pit complete with a ramp was discovered as an external feature of the eastern ditch. A sampling strategy recovered a flaked stone assemblage of flint and chert, which included debris from knapping activities in addition to actual tools. In the area excavated no evidence was recovered for any recognisable form of occupation of any period.” Peter Topping 1978.

“A section cut accross the cursus by P. Topping of Newcastle University showed that both ditches had been re-cut from a norrower almost V-shape to a wide shallow form. A truncated post hole was found dug into the silting of the eastern ditch. A large low mound apparently lay within the ditches at the north west end of the cursus. There was also evidence here os external pits possibly holding upright timbers” YAJ 51, 1978

“NZ240005 Cropmarks revealed in aerial photographs taken by Prof. J. K. F. St. Joseph are threatened by gravel workings. The Richmondshire Excavation Group, directed by Mrs F. Thubron for the DOE sectioned the cursus mark to expose two double ditches 32 m apart, 1 m deep, and from 2-3m wide. Two of these showed evidence of re-cutting. No dating evidence was found. Several sherds of Roman pottery was picked up from plough soil near the circular cropmark.” from Yorkshire Arch. Journal, Vol 48, 1976, P.2.

“The site was discovered by Prof J.K. St Joseph in 1949, and from his series of aerial photographs it was possible to trace the course of the cursus for approximately 2.1 kilometers. Evidence from soil stripping and exacavations has shown that the monument extends even further to the north-west, the north west terminal not as yet having been discovered. The south west terminal, which shows clearly on the aerial photographs, consists of a straight transverse ditch which joins the two main ditches at right angles. Clustering around it was a series of ring-ditch crop marks. The aerial photographs also show a series of bleach marks between the ditches at the southern end of the cursus, which may represent a series of contiguous mounds. This area of the cursus also features what appears to be smaller outer ditches, although they may be restricted to the southern end of the cursus as they were absent in the excavated area.
Another noteworthy feature brought out by aerial photography is the accuracy with which the ditches have been laid out, so they are remarkably straight considering the distance over which they extend”.

“from the evidence available at Rudston, it would appear that cursus monuments in Yorkshire developed during the late Neolithic, and flourished, as can be seen at Rudston in its magnificent complex of monuments, into the Early Bronze Age. It is within this local chronological framework that the cursus at Scorton must have developed, although not to as great an extent as the important centres of Rudston or Thornborough”. Excavation at the Cursus at Scoton North Yorkshire 1978 Peter Topping, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, Volume 54, 1982

Sep 27

Kirklington Tumulus, North Yorkshire

Kirklington Tumulus

“Prehistoric vessels dug out of the mound at Stapely Hill, Kirklington, in 1903. Fragments of several pottery urns of the Bronze Age, C. 1,000 B.C., one containing cremated human bones” Description and photo’s from Kirklington Church.

“SE 326828 S. White reports that a polished flint axe was found by Mrs J. Fothergill in 1976. The axe is in perfect condition with a cream patination, 14 cm long, 4.4 cm thick and 6 cm wide at the blade. It is of red coastal flint. An examination of the field in November 1977 produced no further finds. In the possession of the finder.” YAS Vol 50, 1978, P.8.

Sep 27

Kirkhaugh, Cumbria

Kirkhaugh – Cumbria

Barrow (NY 704494) 2 miles NNW of Alston. Finds in Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle.

“This mound is 22ft. in diam. and about 3ft high. It has been built upon a natural knoll which makes the barrow look larger than it is. Excavation showed that the mound has an earthy core with a rubble capping. Decayed traces of an unburnt body were found at the centre and amoung the offerings in the mound near the burial there was a basket-shaped gold ear-ring of a type found with beakers in Britain. Date, c. 2,000 – 1,700 BC.

Sep 27

Devil’s Arrows, North Yorkshire

The Devil’s Arrows – BoroughBridge

Introduction

This Bronze Age site comprises of three large standing stones, it is thought originally there were as many as five stones in this alignment. Being Bronze Age little is known about the origin of the Devil’s Arrows, the name reflecting a more recent myth. The monument is strongly linked with an alignment withseveral others covering a line of over 50 miles and heading north south through North Yorkshire.

The site itself, being just off the A1 has been an important communications route for several thousand years and it is likely that in the Iron age the Brigantes adopted this as a centre for religious or tribal gatherings. It’s importance is further indicated by the creation of the tribal capital of Isurium Brigantium in c. 120AD less than three miles away at Aldborough.

Research so far has been limited to a site visit and scans for document records.

In the Brigantium context it is likely that this site, together with the triple henge alignment and cursus of Thornborough some 8-10 miles to the north of the Arrows formed one of the most significant religious and tribla gathering point in Brigantia.

Location

Grid Ref: SE391665, Latitude: 54.092736, Longitude: -1.402114.

Three naturally shaped stones in an alignment thought to have originally included up to five stones. These are almost in a straight line, pointing north to south. The outer stones are 200 and 370ft away from the central stone.

Access to these is relatively simple, they are just off the side of an elevated section of the A1(M) trunk road at Jct 48 to Boroughbridge.

The stones have heights of 18ft (northern stone), and 22ft. They are of millstone grit which was quarried at Knaresborough, 6.5 miles to the SW. The grooving is the result of weathering.

The Devils Arrows are the centre of the most important alignment of standing stones, henges and other remains in Yorkshire, all running N/S alongside the ancient line of the A1, Stretching from Hutton Moor to Thornborough and beyond. Current estimates indicate they were erected during the Bronze Age c. 2,200 – 1,400 BC.

Views of the northern and central stone

Left, central stone and northern stone, right.

southern-most stone

Other research

The name stems from a legend traced back to 1721, where the Devil was supposed to have thrown the stones, aiming at the next town of Aldborough. He stood on Howe Hill and shouted,

“Borobrigg keep out o’ way,

For Aldborough town

I will ding down!”

But obviously his aim was not that good, and so they landed short of their mark.

At their maximum of 22 feet in height, The Devil’s Arrows are the tallest standing stones in the United Kingdom apart from the Rudston Monolith.


Since Antiquarian William Stukeley’s time it has been believed that the arrows are in a straight line, running North to South. The fact is that they’re visibly not. When they were dragged across from miles of countryside from Knaresborough (seven miles away), the stones where constructed to not be in line, but to be slightly “westward.”

In the 1970’s Paul Devereux wrote in The Ley Hunter’s Companion that “the functions of the monoliths was to act as a multi-directional sighting or reference instrument.” Devereux also quotes G Bernard Wood on “the Devil’s arrows stand in line “with an ancient ford across the River Ure.”

The Devils Arrow alignment. Ref: Lines on the Landscape, Devereux and Pennick

This place is remarkable for those monuments called the Devils Arrows, but whether Roman or British, is uncertain. “Here was, in the British times,” says Dr. Stukeley, “the great Panegyre of the Druids, the Midsummer meeting of all the country round, to celebrate the great quarterly sacrifice; accompanied with sports, games, races, and all kinds of exercises, with universal festivity. This was like the Panathenian, the Olympian, Nemean meetings, and games among the Grecians. These obelisks were as the Metae of the Races; the remembrance hereof is transmitted in the present great Fair held here, on St. Barnabas Day.”

In Leland’s time there were four, but in the seventeenth century, one of them was pulled down; the remaining ones are placed at unequal distances from each other. The tallest one is 30 feet 6 inches from the bottom, about 6 feet of which are buried in the ground; its greatest circumference 16 feet.

Richard Frank, a singular traveller, and famous peripatetic angler, in his tour to the northern parts of Scotland, to enjoy his favourite amusement, which he published in 1694, says that he saw near Boroughbridge, seven of these stones, in which he must have been mistaken, as it is not likely that they have increased since the days of Leland. Evident marks of the chisel appear below the surface of the earth. It is of the common coarse rag stone or mill grit; a large rock of this stone from which, probably these obelisks were taken, is at Plumpton, near Knaresborough. Doctor Stillingfleet considers them as British Deities: Leland, Camden, and Drake, suppose them to have been the work of the Romans, and erected by that people as trophies, to commemorate some important victory.

Near this place, in 1322, that unfortunate Prince, Thomas Earl of Lancaster, with some of the nobility, disgusted with the royal favourites, the Spencers, made stand against the forces of his nephew, Edward II. but was taken by Sir Andrew de Harcla, who, being insensible to entreaties and solicitations, and after suffering every possible indignity that cruelty could suggest, was mounted on a sorry horse, and brought before the King, who ordered, without any form of trial, his head to be struck off, on an eminence near Pontefract. One of his partisans, the powerful John de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, in passing over the bridge, then made of wood, was run through with a spear, by a soldier, cowardly placed beneath for that execrable purpose. It sends two Members to Parliament, a privilege it derived from Queen Mary in 1553.

[From Langdale’s Topographical Dictionary of Yorkshire. (1822)]

Sep 27

Knockfarrel, Ross and Cromarty

Knockfarrel

Knockfarrel (Gaelic, cnoc, hill; faire, watch, or guard)
Ross & Cromarty
2 1/2 miles west of Dingwall
NH 505585

Vitrified Fort

This had substantial ramparts made of stones with a timber frame, enclosing a large area and making good use of the natural defences of the hill-top.. At some time, the timber of the walls was set on fire, creating enough heat to melt the rock. This vitrification can be seen all around the perimeter of the fort.

Sep 27

Mote of Mark, Dumfries

Mote of Mark

Mote of Mark, Rockcliffe.
Dumfries & Galloway
4 miles south of Dalbeattie
NX 845540

Vitrified Fort

The Mote of Mark is a defended hilltop overlooking the Urr estuary. It was the court or citadel of a powerful Dark Age chieftain, possibly one of the princes of Rheged. The site was occupied during the 6th century and appears to have been destroyed by fire in the 7th century.

The top of the hill was enclosed by a massive stone and timber rampart. Inside was a timber hall surrounded by a huddle of workshops and stables. This was a wealthy site with trading contacts across Europe. Finds from the excavations include glass beads and wine jars from central France and glassware from Germany. Local craftsmen produced elegant bronze jewelry in a distinctive Celtic style.

The tumbled remains of the ramparts can still be seen and an on-site interpretation panel has an atmospheric reconstruction of the fort.

size: 8 ha (20a)

Legendary and Literary Background – https://panther.bsc.edu/~arthur/others.html
This fort was occupied from the 5th to 7th centuries, smack dab in the Arthurian time frame. At the pinnacle of its prominence, it was a well-fortified trading and manufacturing center. Excavations in 1913 and 1973 unearthed a large, circular timber hut and evidence of metalworking. These people seemed to have imported raw materials–iron from the Lake District and jet from York–to produce interlaced jewelry, brooches, and sundry metalwork. They imported luxuries as well–pottery from Bordeaux and glass from the Rhineland were found. Such prosperity suggests that this fort may have been the stronghold of a smaller British subkingdom.

The primary defences consisted of stone and timber walls, and there was a timber gate for the main entrance on the southern slopes. In the 7th century, though, these defences failed. The outer wall shows evidence of vitrification, a condition when extreme heat causes stones to fuse together. Many believe that this was the result of an attack by the Angles–Anglian runic inscriptions were found at the site–though some say that the walls were purposely vitrified to strengthen them.

The only thing truly connecting this fort with the Arthurian legend is the name, its period of occupation, and its proximity to Trusty’s Hill.

Sep 27

Eileen na Goar, Highlands

Eileen na Goar

 

Eileen na Goar is a large vitrified fort, situated on the island at the entrance of Loch Ailort.

This island, locally termed Eilean na Goar, is the most eastern and is bounded on all sides by precipitous gneiss rocks; it is the abode and nesting place of numerous sea birds. The flat surface on the top is 120 feet from the sea level, and the remains of the vitrified fort are situated on this, oblong in form, with a continuous rampart of vitrified wall five feet thick, attached at the SW end to a large upright rock of gneiss. The space enclosed by this wall is 420 feet in circumference and 70 feet in width. The rampart is continuous and about five feet in thickness. At the eastern end is a great mass of wall in situ, vitrified on both sides. In the centre of the enclosed space is a deep depression in which are masses of the vitrified wall strewed about, evidently detached.

Sep 27

Finavon, Angus

Finavon, Angus

.


Finavon Hill has attracted a great deal of archaeological interest from antiquarians and archaeologists over the years especially since it displayed traces of vitrified rock. It was planned 100 years ago by David Christison and was subject to extensive excavations undertaken by Prof. Gordon Childe between 1933-5. That the fort had been burnt was clearly attested not only by the vitrified material but also by the charred timbers located during the excavation. The fort could also be readily compared to other oblong forts and was, therefore, targeted for scientific dating techniques including radiocarbon dating, thermoluminesence and archaeomagnetic dating.

A survey plan of the fort was undertaken using a variety of techniques. The fort is c. 155m long by c.55m wide. There is a T-shaped outwork at the eastern end. As described by Childe the southern side of the fort sits back at least 20m from the cliff edge. In addition at the western end it extends to incorporate a natural depression. In both cases the apparent disregard for the natural topography as a line for the ramparts surely indicates that the practical need for a defensive position was not the a primary reason behind the construction of the fort. Indeed the need to obtain an oblong shape, despite the topographic variations, suggests that this may have been as much an issue in the minds of the builders. It is also possible that the inclusion of the natural hollow at the western end may

have been of some significance, perhaps related in use to the well at the eastern end.

The fort and its immediate surroundings have been subject to a great deal of quarrying which has had a profound effect on the nature of the remains and can be very confusing when visiting the site. Three main areas of quarrying can be identified on the hill: the entire southern side of the southern rampart; a small section into the exterior off the northern rampart; and an extensive set along the north-eastern face of the hill outside the fort.

Although in general the state of Preservation of the features can be described as stable there are a number of small areas of active erosion. The areas effected by the quarrying and the excavations are the most unstable and most prone to erosion. Particularly noticeable is the loose stone work in what was Childe’s trench D or the eastern end of the main quarry in along the southern rampart. Animal activity on the site appears to be relatively restricted although there are a large number of mole hills on the southern terrace.

Excavations carried out in 1933-4 by Childe (1935) showed that the wall was about 20′ thick and that it stood 12′ internally and 16′ externally beneath the grass-grown rubble. There was a row of dwellings with hearths under the shelter of the N wall. Pot-making, spinning and metal-working were carried out in the lee of the S wall. The finds, including gritty plain potsherds, stone whorls, flints, an iron ring, and a thick jet ring, are in the NMAS (Acc. Nos: AO 104, BE 480, HH 386-416).
In 1966 MacKie dug two trenches against the inner faces of the N and S ramparts, and three radio-carbon dates were obtained – c. 390, c. 480, and c. 665 BC – indicating that the fort was in use from the 7th century BC until at least the late 5th or early 4th century before being destroyed.

“This is a typical vitrified fort, so far as such a thing can be said to exist, and is unusually accessible. It was investigated by excavation in the early 1930s, so more details are known of its construction than of most others.

It was defended by a single massive wall, now heavily vitrified, enclosing 0-4 hectare. The plan seems to be the result of deliberate setting out, parallel-sided with semicircular ends, and pays little regard to the form of the ground. There is a further arc of walling outside the east end, linked to the main enclosure by a straight axial line of wall (cf. Castle Law, Forgandenny); this is now slightly lower than the ramparts which it links. There is also a horn of vitrified material projecting at the east end of the south wall. These features were not investigated. There is a rock-cut well in the enclosure, and a deep hollow which may also have been a
water hole at the west end. The ramparts have been broken through by a modern track, but no ancient entrance can be identified.

Excavation showed that the wall was 6 metres thick, and it was estimated originally to have stood 3-6 metres high internally and 4-9 metres high externally, having been built on a slope. On the inner face, at a height of 2-4 metres, the wall face was set back about 0-7 metres, and wherever tested remains of burned timbers were found against the inside of the rampart. It seems that the whole circuit must have been lined with timber buildings. Some very coarse pottery was found. More recently, radiocarbon dating of these burned remains indicated a date of probably between 400 and 600 BC for their construction.” – A.H.A. Hogg – Hill=Forts of Britain.

V. G. Childe, Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot. LXIX (1934-5), pp. 49-80

(excavation); LXX (1935-6), pp. 347-52 (minor additional

details).

E. W. MacKie, Antiquity XLIII (1969), p. 17 (radiocarbon

dating).

PP, pi. 56 (air photo).

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