Corby's Crags rock shelter (Edlingham)
A few flint flakes and a pot rim under a slab of stone, found by Peter Cheffings, led to investigation and excavation during July 1975 of a rock shelter at NU 12800965. This revealed the following:
a. More than 30 pieces of flint all allegedly (Mesolithic) including microliths, scrapers and a possible borer.
b. Buried in the floor of the shelter an Early Bronze Age cremation in a food vessel covered with a capstone.
c. On the outside upper surface of the rock shelter a 'basin and groove' mark. Also evidence of use of the shelter in modern times by finds of clay pipe fragments, glass, small pieces of iron and modern carving of ledges in the rock.
The flints and food vessel fragments are now at Newcastle University Department of Archaeology for examination and reconstruction. (1)
NU 12790962. This shelter (measuring about 6m long by 2m deep and 1.7m maximum height) is under a natural rock outcrop. The roughly triangular split capstone (about 73cm by 40cm) is still laid on the shelter floor.
On the upper outer surface of the shelter the 'basin' (about 43cm diameter), surrounded by a 'groove' (64cm by 50cm), penetrated by a narrow channel (possibly natural) about 3m long, appears to be genuine and contemporary with the local 'cup and ring' marks and reinforces the Bronze Age association of the site.
Other grooves and hollows on an adjacent rock are probably due to natural erosion.
Surveyed at 1:10,000. (2)
Finds in Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle upon Tyne, accession no 1975.9. (3)
Excavation report. (4)
NU 12790962. Corby Crags. Rock shelter, basin, groove, channel, cremation burial. Association of burial in a rock overhang marked by a basin and groove is unique. (5)
Corby Crags (H00644) NU 12790962. On top surface of domed rock shelter is a basin and groove design with large duct. On the floor is a long curved groove. (6)
Mesolithic artifacts from Corby Crags (NU 12800965). One microlith and one scraper. [location as above]. (7)
Possibly bipartite Bronze Age pot with c10 stops in concave neck. Decorated. In Museum of Antiquities (1975.9). (8)
Summary of excavation report. (9)
The site is listed by the CAPRA website as the only one in Northumberland. Brief summary details of the site are given. (10)
A large basin with a groove running from it and a groove surrounding it. This is near the top of the dome, which has been cu into to provide a boundary between Percy and Swinburne lands (marked P/S on the rock) and continues down the rock in a series of cut steps. The dome outcrop has been partially quarried, with signs of millstone extraction, and this has confused the identification of what may be cup marks. (11a)
a. More than 30 pieces of flint all allegedly (Mesolithic) including microliths, scrapers and a possible borer.
b. Buried in the floor of the shelter an Early Bronze Age cremation in a food vessel covered with a capstone.
c. On the outside upper surface of the rock shelter a 'basin and groove' mark. Also evidence of use of the shelter in modern times by finds of clay pipe fragments, glass, small pieces of iron and modern carving of ledges in the rock.
The flints and food vessel fragments are now at Newcastle University Department of Archaeology for examination and reconstruction. (1)
NU 12790962. This shelter (measuring about 6m long by 2m deep and 1.7m maximum height) is under a natural rock outcrop. The roughly triangular split capstone (about 73cm by 40cm) is still laid on the shelter floor.
On the upper outer surface of the shelter the 'basin' (about 43cm diameter), surrounded by a 'groove' (64cm by 50cm), penetrated by a narrow channel (possibly natural) about 3m long, appears to be genuine and contemporary with the local 'cup and ring' marks and reinforces the Bronze Age association of the site.
Other grooves and hollows on an adjacent rock are probably due to natural erosion.
Surveyed at 1:10,000. (2)
Finds in Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle upon Tyne, accession no 1975.9. (3)
Excavation report. (4)
NU 12790962. Corby Crags. Rock shelter, basin, groove, channel, cremation burial. Association of burial in a rock overhang marked by a basin and groove is unique. (5)
Corby Crags (H00644) NU 12790962. On top surface of domed rock shelter is a basin and groove design with large duct. On the floor is a long curved groove. (6)
Mesolithic artifacts from Corby Crags (NU 12800965). One microlith and one scraper. [location as above]. (7)
Possibly bipartite Bronze Age pot with c10 stops in concave neck. Decorated. In Museum of Antiquities (1975.9). (8)
Summary of excavation report. (9)
The site is listed by the CAPRA website as the only one in Northumberland. Brief summary details of the site are given. (10)
A large basin with a groove running from it and a groove surrounding it. This is near the top of the dome, which has been cu into to provide a boundary between Percy and Swinburne lands (marked P/S on the rock) and continues down the rock in a series of cut steps. The dome outcrop has been partially quarried, with signs of millstone extraction, and this has confused the identification of what may be cup marks. (11a)
N4227
EXCAVATION, The Excavation of a Rock Shelter at Corby's Crags, Edlingham 1975
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; I S Sainsbury
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; I S Sainsbury
Disclaimer -
Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.