Prehistoric Burial Mounds (Beadnell)
Two cairns were discovered on Beadnell Links during the making of a caravan park in March 1970. Cairn 1 (approximately NU 23042991), 315yds south of Lindhouse Cottage (NU 22883015). Due to extensive damage no excavation was attempted. It consisted of a mound, about 12ft diameter and 2ft high, of sea-rolled cobbles retained by a kerb of larger stones covered with sea-blown sand over which a turf line had formed. Evidence for a cist and inhumations was removed by machinery.
Cairn 2 (approximately NU 23022993), at a centre to centre distance of 80ft north of Cairn 1, see illustration. Diameter 19ft, height 4ft; of similar construction to Cairn 1.
A cist was excavated proving to have been subsequently heightened and lengthened. It contained nineteen identifiable individuals, the latest still articulated lying above the disturbed remains of the earlier. The earliest burials were represented by decayed bone in the dark filling at the bottom of the phase 1 cist.
The only dateable find was a Romano-British bronze penannular brooch from the shoulder of a still articulated burial with its head to the east. A cup-marked stone was found in the cairn material.
Tentative dating of the cairn and burials indicates a possible re-use of a Bronze Age short cist in the Iron Age and Romano-British periods. (1)(7a)
Cup marked cist cover in re-used burial. Original burial contained a piece of sandstone 380mm x 360mm. It had 29 small cups and a groove. (2)
Marked stone found at Beadnell. (3)
Cairn 1 contained several undated inhumations. Cairn 2 contained primary cist with crouched inhumation, subsequently enlarged and used for secondary burial of 18 more bodies. (4)
Nineteen intrusive cist burial in a Bronze Age cairn. Included a penannular brooch; extended and flexed burials. Listed under 'Roman and post-Roman burials in Northumbria'. (5)
Bronze Age skeletal remains from Beadnell, now in Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle, accession number 1984.13. Given by J Weyman. [May be associated with this discovery]. (6)
Additional Reference (7b)
Cairn 2 (approximately NU 23022993), at a centre to centre distance of 80ft north of Cairn 1, see illustration. Diameter 19ft, height 4ft; of similar construction to Cairn 1.
A cist was excavated proving to have been subsequently heightened and lengthened. It contained nineteen identifiable individuals, the latest still articulated lying above the disturbed remains of the earlier. The earliest burials were represented by decayed bone in the dark filling at the bottom of the phase 1 cist.
The only dateable find was a Romano-British bronze penannular brooch from the shoulder of a still articulated burial with its head to the east. A cup-marked stone was found in the cairn material.
Tentative dating of the cairn and burials indicates a possible re-use of a Bronze Age short cist in the Iron Age and Romano-British periods. (1)(7a)
Cup marked cist cover in re-used burial. Original burial contained a piece of sandstone 380mm x 360mm. It had 29 small cups and a groove. (2)
Marked stone found at Beadnell. (3)
Cairn 1 contained several undated inhumations. Cairn 2 contained primary cist with crouched inhumation, subsequently enlarged and used for secondary burial of 18 more bodies. (4)
Nineteen intrusive cist burial in a Bronze Age cairn. Included a penannular brooch; extended and flexed burials. Listed under 'Roman and post-Roman burials in Northumbria'. (5)
Bronze Age skeletal remains from Beadnell, now in Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle, accession number 1984.13. Given by J Weyman. [May be associated with this discovery]. (6)
Additional Reference (7b)
N5788
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.