Bronze Age cist burials at Shell Law (Lesbury)
(NU22931260) Cistvaens (Found AD 1850). (1)
Numerous prehistoric interments were found in stone cists in 1850 on the hill called Shell-Law, close to Hawkhill Farm. The cists were of various sizes and of the usual shape, but one was double and contained a fine specimen of the so called 'drinking cup' as well as a food vessel of ruder make. The drinking cup is engraved (in 1(a)). It is now in the Museum of Society of Antiquaries in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. (2)
Five cistvaens have been opened on the summit of a hill of the boulder formation 1/4 mile north of Lesbury near Hawkhill.
They measured 5ft7ins x 3ft6ins; 3ft6ins x 1ft10ins; 1ft10ins x 1ft4ins; a small cist (no measurements given) and a double cist 6ft0ins x 2ft3ins. An urn was found in the former cist measuring 5ins in height with a circumference at top of 19ins and at bottom 8ins, and another was found in the latter cist measuring 10ins in height with circumferences at top of 22ins and at
bottom of 9-1/2ins. (Illustration shows this urn to be an Abercromby Type B beaker). A few human bones were found in the other three cists. (2)
Bronze Age Beaker and Food Vessel from Hawkhill Lesbury. Donor, Earl Grey (4). 1850. (3)
There are three glacial hills, covering an area measuring c.300 metres NW-SE by c.150 metres NE-SW centred at NU22871264, which are known as Shell Laws and the position where the cistvaens were found occurs in the eastern one. The ploughed land here is frozen and snow covered at present and there is nothing to indicate the site of the cistvaens - no finds were made during field investigation and no barrows are visible. Enquiries were made at Hawkhill Farm to ascertain if any discoveries had been made subsequent to 1850 but the farmer was not available. (5)
Beaker listed as short-necked. (6)
Food vessel, found in a cist with a beaker. Bipartite vase, 127mm high, 147mm rim diameter, 64mm base diameter. Decorated. In Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle (1850-16). (7)
Additional Reference (8)
Numerous prehistoric interments were found in stone cists in 1850 on the hill called Shell-Law, close to Hawkhill Farm. The cists were of various sizes and of the usual shape, but one was double and contained a fine specimen of the so called 'drinking cup' as well as a food vessel of ruder make. The drinking cup is engraved (in 1(a)). It is now in the Museum of Society of Antiquaries in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. (2)
Five cistvaens have been opened on the summit of a hill of the boulder formation 1/4 mile north of Lesbury near Hawkhill.
They measured 5ft7ins x 3ft6ins; 3ft6ins x 1ft10ins; 1ft10ins x 1ft4ins; a small cist (no measurements given) and a double cist 6ft0ins x 2ft3ins. An urn was found in the former cist measuring 5ins in height with a circumference at top of 19ins and at bottom 8ins, and another was found in the latter cist measuring 10ins in height with circumferences at top of 22ins and at
bottom of 9-1/2ins. (Illustration shows this urn to be an Abercromby Type B beaker). A few human bones were found in the other three cists. (2)
Bronze Age Beaker and Food Vessel from Hawkhill Lesbury. Donor, Earl Grey (4). 1850. (3)
There are three glacial hills, covering an area measuring c.300 metres NW-SE by c.150 metres NE-SW centred at NU22871264, which are known as Shell Laws and the position where the cistvaens were found occurs in the eastern one. The ploughed land here is frozen and snow covered at present and there is nothing to indicate the site of the cistvaens - no finds were made during field investigation and no barrows are visible. Enquiries were made at Hawkhill Farm to ascertain if any discoveries had been made subsequent to 1850 but the farmer was not available. (5)
Beaker listed as short-necked. (6)
Food vessel, found in a cist with a beaker. Bipartite vase, 127mm high, 147mm rim diameter, 64mm base diameter. Decorated. In Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle (1850-16). (7)
Additional Reference (8)
N5698
EXCAVATION, Excavation at Shell Law 1850; TATE, G
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1954; J H Ostridge
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1954; J H Ostridge
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