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Site Details

North Knoll cairn (Ingram)

A small circular turf covered stony mound about 3m in diameter, height 0.4m, which could be a field clearance heap. (1)

The cairn was excavated in 1996 and 1997 and shown to be a complex site with at least two major phases of construction, two cists and a number of cremations. The two main phases were both succeeded by periods of ploughing. The cairn originally dates to the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. However, the central cist contained a cup marked stone and Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic period flints were found in the cairn material. A radiocarbon date obtained from the central cist gave a date of 2205-2030 cal BC (Beta 121731). Study of the human bone has revealed at least five individuals, including an infant. There was a large amount of pyre debris in the two cists and this included much redeposited bone. An undisturbed adult burial lay on the north side of the cairn. (2)(3)

Part of Scheduled Monument 32782: Ingram Farm prehistoric to post-medieval settlement, agricultural and funerary remains. (4)

North Cairn probably originated as a clearance cairn, associated with the ploughing of the adjacent plateau. Following the deposition of ploughsoil over the southwestern edge of the cairn, the centraland eastern parts of the cairn were used for burial. Crude inner and outer kerbs were constructed around the eastern side of the cairn and two stone cists were constructed, one in the centre of the cairn. Later narrow-rigg ploughing adjacent to the cairn was associated with the further deposition of clearance stones on the cairn. (5)
N12974
Early Neolithic (4000BC to 3300BC)
Late Neolithic (2900BC to 2200BC)
Early Bronze Age (2600BC to 1600BC)
Late Mesolithic (7000BC to 4000BC)
FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; S Ainsworth
EXCAVATION, The Ingram and Upper Breamish Valley Landscape Project: Turf Knowe Field System, Dyke and Cairn ; Archaeological Services Durham University


Source of Reference
Local History of Ingram

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