Cartington tree trunk burial (Cartington)
[NU 03790538] A tree trunk burial of the Early Bronze Age was discovered in 1913 on the estate of Lord Armstrong at Cartington. The site of the find, about 1/2 mile north of Cartington Castle, is on the summit of a rise, about 650 feet above sea level.
The discovery was made during ploughing, when a large block of freestone was encountered. After this and other stones had been removed a wooden trough like object was discovered at a depth of about four feet and oriented east-west. This object proved to be a coffin made from a solid oak tree about 7 feet in circumference. It had been split lengthwise, one half being used as the coffin and the other as the cover. The coffin, which was firmly fixed in position by oak wedges and large stones, had been protected from the pressure of the cairn and soil above by a rudely constructed stone arch extending the length of the grave. The original excavation for the burial had been about 8 feet square.
The tree coffin is 5 feet 6 inches long overall, the hollowed space for the body being 4 feet long and from 20 to 25 inches wide. There is a deep hollow for the back and knees [of a crouched burial] and at the east end a 'dais' or pillow for the head. In one corner of the coffin is a hole for haulage.
The only tangible remains of the burial were a few molar teeth and the cast of a leg bone in the clay filling the coffin. The body had lain facing the sun, with its head to the east. In the coffin were fragments of kid or calf skin, one piece having thong stitching.
At the west end of the coffin was a 'drinking cup' but only a few fragments were recovered. It appears to have been 6 or 7 inches high with horizontal lines and thong impressions. A flint scraper and several small er pieces of flint were found in the clay of the coffin.
The finds were presented to the Society of Antiquiaries Newcastle by Lord Armstrong. The coffin has been placed in the annexe to the Blackgate Museum. The two teeth have been sent to the Dental Hospital. (1)(9a)
The length of the coffin would necessitate burial in a bent or crouched position. The upper half of the tree trunk or coffin cover had decayed and only a few fragments remaind. The coffin apparently contained a beaker (of unknown type) and a flint thumb scraper. Coffin now at Blackgate Museum, Newcastle. [Present location of fragments of beaker and thumb scraper not given]. (2)
Oak coffin with crouched burial and beaker at Cartington Farm. It is uncertain whether this interment was ever covered by a barrow which had been removed. (3)
The oak 'dug-out' coffin and fragments of a sepulchral vessel found in connection with a prehistoric burial at Cartington Farm were donated to the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle by Lord Armstrong on 28th May 1913. (4)
[Description]. (5)
Oak coffin and two fragments of cover now at Department of Ethnology, King's College, Sydenham Terrace, Newcastle. (6)
The siting by Authority 1 falls upon the highest part of a north-south ridge, within a ploughed field. There are no traces of antiquity now to be seen. The present location of the beaker fragments, thumb scraper and leather and flint fragments has not been ascertained. Mr Murray, tenant of Cartington, confirms that the coffin was found on the highest part of the ploughed field. (7)
Tree trunk coffin from Bronze Age burial at Cartington, transferred on long loan to Bamburgh Castle Museum. A sample was taken for radiocarbon dating, 184+/-65bc (GU-1648:3790+/- 65bp) indicating a calendar date of c.2400-2200 BC. (8)
The discovery was made during ploughing, when a large block of freestone was encountered. After this and other stones had been removed a wooden trough like object was discovered at a depth of about four feet and oriented east-west. This object proved to be a coffin made from a solid oak tree about 7 feet in circumference. It had been split lengthwise, one half being used as the coffin and the other as the cover. The coffin, which was firmly fixed in position by oak wedges and large stones, had been protected from the pressure of the cairn and soil above by a rudely constructed stone arch extending the length of the grave. The original excavation for the burial had been about 8 feet square.
The tree coffin is 5 feet 6 inches long overall, the hollowed space for the body being 4 feet long and from 20 to 25 inches wide. There is a deep hollow for the back and knees [of a crouched burial] and at the east end a 'dais' or pillow for the head. In one corner of the coffin is a hole for haulage.
The only tangible remains of the burial were a few molar teeth and the cast of a leg bone in the clay filling the coffin. The body had lain facing the sun, with its head to the east. In the coffin were fragments of kid or calf skin, one piece having thong stitching.
At the west end of the coffin was a 'drinking cup' but only a few fragments were recovered. It appears to have been 6 or 7 inches high with horizontal lines and thong impressions. A flint scraper and several small er pieces of flint were found in the clay of the coffin.
The finds were presented to the Society of Antiquiaries Newcastle by Lord Armstrong. The coffin has been placed in the annexe to the Blackgate Museum. The two teeth have been sent to the Dental Hospital. (1)(9a)
The length of the coffin would necessitate burial in a bent or crouched position. The upper half of the tree trunk or coffin cover had decayed and only a few fragments remaind. The coffin apparently contained a beaker (of unknown type) and a flint thumb scraper. Coffin now at Blackgate Museum, Newcastle. [Present location of fragments of beaker and thumb scraper not given]. (2)
Oak coffin with crouched burial and beaker at Cartington Farm. It is uncertain whether this interment was ever covered by a barrow which had been removed. (3)
The oak 'dug-out' coffin and fragments of a sepulchral vessel found in connection with a prehistoric burial at Cartington Farm were donated to the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle by Lord Armstrong on 28th May 1913. (4)
[Description]. (5)
Oak coffin and two fragments of cover now at Department of Ethnology, King's College, Sydenham Terrace, Newcastle. (6)
The siting by Authority 1 falls upon the highest part of a north-south ridge, within a ploughed field. There are no traces of antiquity now to be seen. The present location of the beaker fragments, thumb scraper and leather and flint fragments has not been ascertained. Mr Murray, tenant of Cartington, confirms that the coffin was found on the highest part of the ploughed field. (7)
Tree trunk coffin from Bronze Age burial at Cartington, transferred on long loan to Bamburgh Castle Museum. A sample was taken for radiocarbon dating, 184+/-65bc (GU-1648:3790+/- 65bp) indicating a calendar date of c.2400-2200 BC. (8)
N2737
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; A S Phillips
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; E Geary
EXCAVATION, Cartington Farm
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; E Geary
EXCAVATION, Cartington Farm
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