A long cairn situated about 1100ft above sea level on the southern slope of Dour Hill and about 300 yds from the summit (Area NT 795019). The cairn is 164ft long, 28ft wide and 2-5ft high, and is orientated east-west with a 'slight concavity' to the north. Some large stones 35ft from the east end possibly denote a chamber. A secondary Bronze Age cist 4ft by 2ft 2ins is exposed 13ft from the east end. Many of the stones from the cairn have been removed probably to build the large sheepfold to the south. (1)

When the secondary cist was cleared out in 1932 a flint side scraper was the only find. (2)

Now in Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle. (3)

The cairn is at NT 7923 0212 and is in fair condition (see photographs). No large stones suggestive of a chamber are now visible, but the secondary cist is intact. Surveyed at 6 inch scale. (4)

Long cairn, 55m long, height 2m (5).

The site is within a Forestry Commission plantation, some conifers are growing on the cairn. First described as a long cairn by Thomas Arkle and recorded as such by Hardy (1881). A small cist was noted in the 1930s and was subsequently excavated by Drs Punshon and Miller who recovered a flint scraper. (6)

NT 7923 0212. Long cairn 360m SW of Dour Hill. Scheduled RSM No 25098. The cairn is situated on the W slope of Dour Hill, commanding extensive views into the valley of the Rede. It is orientated NW-SE and measures 50m long and 8.5m wide, standing to a maximum height of 2m. A secondary Bronze Age cist is inserted 6m from the S end of the cairn and measures 1.2m by 0.6m. When excavated in 1930 the cist was found to contain a flint scraper. (7)

A detailed topographic survey was undertaken in March 1996 by The Archaeological Practice. The cairn is obscured by a build up of dense vegetation. It is aligned east-west and measures 49m long, is 5.4m wide at the west end, 8m wide in the middle and 5m wide at the west end. It is composed of angular sandstone blocks, from 0.2m size, to the orthostats at the east end, one of which measures 1.5m by 1.16m. At the western terminus of the cairn is a large stone but it is unclear whether it marked the terminal of the cairn.
The survey has identified two broad phases of construction. The original cairn is the D-shaped central mound which contained at least two circular chambers, possibly four. The probable length east-west was 17.5m to 22.5m by 7.5m at its widest point. One chamber contained a cup marked stone but it is uncertain if it is in its original position. Phase two entailed remodelling of the monument and the creation of an overall form vaguely resembling a long cairn. An extension was added to the east and west sides of the chambered cairn. The east addition measures 13m to 18m long by 4.6m wide, tapering to 2m; it stands up to 1m high. The west addition measures 9m long by 5m wide, tapering to 2m; it stands up to 1.5m high. (8)

The original part of the cairn is a central D-shaped mound. This contained at least two circular chambers, but possibly as many as four. The two definite chambers were connected by passages and there were two entrance passages. Despite having partially collapsed, the chambers showed evidence of corbelling to create a conical type chamber.
In its second phase, the cairn was remodelled to create an overall form which resembles a long cairn. An extension, or wing, was added to both the east and west ends. Within the eastern extension a cist burial present. The secondary remodelling may date to the Early Bronze Age.
As a chambered tomb, the monument is unique in Northumberland. (9) (10)

The site was recorded in a Rock Art survey carried out by the North of the Wall Tynedale Archaeology Group as part of the Beyond the Wall: Edges Green Project. The site was recorded as Dour Hill Long Cairn a (ERA 1565, Beckensall Archive 778, grid referemnce: NT 79203 02130). The survey recorded a small boulder on the highest lip of the long cairn with one definite deep cup and multiple other multiple cups which may be natural. (11)

Dour Hill long cairn b (ERA 1562, Beckensall Archive 779). A large boulder embedded in the body of the long cairn bears three cup marks, two of which are very flat-bottomed. The third cup mark, though deeper, has an extension which may be later erosion damage. Other cup marks are considered to be formed naturally within planar cracks by physical damage. (11)

[NT 7923 0212] Long Cairn [NR] (12)

NT 792 021. Dour Hill. Listed in corpus under 'Possible long cairns, extant or destroyed'. The cairn lies within a Forestry Commission plantation and a number of conifers are growing on the cairn. It is quite close to Bellshiel Law, lying just over 2km WNW of that site, but the two are not intervisible. Dour Hill was first described as a long cairn by Thomas Arkle and recorded as such by Hardy (13b). It was again visited in the 1930s by J Hewat Craw (13c), who describes the cairn as being 164ft (50.09m) long, 28ft (8.53m) wide with a maximum height of 6ft (1.83m). The small cist some 20ft (6.10m) from the E end was also noted. This cist was subsequently excavated by Drs Punshon and Miller and, although it had been previously disturbed, they still managed to recover a small flint scraper in loose soil at the bottom of the cist. At the time of her excavation at Bellshiel Law, Miss Newbiggin visited Dour Hill, coming to the conclusion that the site was a natural mound with a small round cairn on top (13d). Most recently the cairn has been visited by George Jobey in the course of investigating a cist burial some 250m to the E (13d). As a result of this excavation two further round cairns were located between the excavated round cairn and putative long cairn. It is just possible that Miss Newbigggin had seen one of these three round cairns rather than the long cairn. (13)