Benthall Cairn (Beadnell)
Two cists were accidentally found in 1934, when preparing a foundation for a wooden [fishermen's] hut, and were excavated. They were on the edge of a mound of artificial appearance which seemed to consist of water-worn boulders, pebbles and sand, overlaid by a thin layer of soil.
Cist No 1. Built of sandstone slabs with a flagged floor - internal measurements 3ft x 1ft 9ins x 1ft 6ins deep lying WNW-ESE with coverstone 4ft 0ins x 2ft 3ins. The bones had been disarranged - no grave goods.
Cist No 2. Lay 11ft 0in to the south of Cist No 1. Built of sandstone slabs with floor of pebbles bedded in clay-internal measurements 2ft 10ins x 1ft 9ins x 2ft 0in deep with coverstone 3ft 8ins x 2ft 6ins at one end and 3ft 4ins at other end.
Crouched burial and remains of food vessel found - an exact parallel of Abercromby's type la. The food vessel 6ins high, 3ins diam at base and 6ins at top was presented to Society of Antiquaries Newcastle on 31/3/1937. Acc No 1937.8. (1)(2)
NU 23702890. These two cists are still in situ in a mound on the east side of No 1 Hut on the foreshore at Benthall (the hut is used as a store for fishing equipment). The southern cist is in its entirety with coverstone at north east end and is partially filled with soil, the other cist at northern corner of the hut is filled with stores - its coverstone is at one side. The mound has been much disturbed and any accurate measurements are impossible. See photograph. (3)
The cists are as described by F1, but their containing 'mound' is so mutilated that no opinion can be formed on whether it was a Tumulus. Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)
Food vessel from a cist with contracted burial at Benthall. Bipartite vase, 153mm high, 153mm rim diameter, 71mm base diameter. Incised herringbone decoration. In Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle (1937.3). (5)
Scheduled. (6)
Within the last 10 years a rectangular cist chamber with stone slab sides was visible against the east wall of the northernmost hut. This disappeared when the huts were demoished about 2001-2. A stone slab, said to have been associated with one of the cists, lies at the base of the stay for a telegraph post on the site. (7)
(NU 2377 2890) Cists [NR] (8a)
NU 238 288. Benthall round cairn. Scheduled No ND/539. (8b)
Cist No 1. Built of sandstone slabs with a flagged floor - internal measurements 3ft x 1ft 9ins x 1ft 6ins deep lying WNW-ESE with coverstone 4ft 0ins x 2ft 3ins. The bones had been disarranged - no grave goods.
Cist No 2. Lay 11ft 0in to the south of Cist No 1. Built of sandstone slabs with floor of pebbles bedded in clay-internal measurements 2ft 10ins x 1ft 9ins x 2ft 0in deep with coverstone 3ft 8ins x 2ft 6ins at one end and 3ft 4ins at other end.
Crouched burial and remains of food vessel found - an exact parallel of Abercromby's type la. The food vessel 6ins high, 3ins diam at base and 6ins at top was presented to Society of Antiquaries Newcastle on 31/3/1937. Acc No 1937.8. (1)(2)
NU 23702890. These two cists are still in situ in a mound on the east side of No 1 Hut on the foreshore at Benthall (the hut is used as a store for fishing equipment). The southern cist is in its entirety with coverstone at north east end and is partially filled with soil, the other cist at northern corner of the hut is filled with stores - its coverstone is at one side. The mound has been much disturbed and any accurate measurements are impossible. See photograph. (3)
The cists are as described by F1, but their containing 'mound' is so mutilated that no opinion can be formed on whether it was a Tumulus. Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)
Food vessel from a cist with contracted burial at Benthall. Bipartite vase, 153mm high, 153mm rim diameter, 71mm base diameter. Incised herringbone decoration. In Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle (1937.3). (5)
Scheduled. (6)
Within the last 10 years a rectangular cist chamber with stone slab sides was visible against the east wall of the northernmost hut. This disappeared when the huts were demoished about 2001-2. A stone slab, said to have been associated with one of the cists, lies at the base of the stay for a telegraph post on the site. (7)
(NU 2377 2890) Cists [NR] (8a)
NU 238 288. Benthall round cairn. Scheduled No ND/539. (8b)
N5781
EXCAVATION, Benthall 1934
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; J H Ostridge
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; D Smith
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Whiterock Site, Benthall, Beadnell 2010; TWM Archaeology
TRIAL TRENCH, Whiterock 2010; TWM Archaeology
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; J H Ostridge
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; D Smith
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Whiterock Site, Benthall, Beadnell 2010; TWM Archaeology
TRIAL TRENCH, Whiterock 2010; TWM Archaeology
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