Petty Knowes Roman cemetery (Rochester and Byrness)
NY 835982 Fifteen 'U' Cairns. (1)
Centred at NY 837 982 in an area of gently undulating open moorland, are three groups of turf-covered earthen mounds, some containing small amounts of stone. (See 1:500 illustration).
Group 'A' NY 8357 9825. Situated on a north-west facing slope, below an area of surface quarrying are 45 mounds (some only visible as low poorly defined tumps) ranging from 2.5m to 5m in diameter and 0.1m to 0.5m in height. Of these mounds 15 have traces of an enclosing ditch and three have remains of an outer bank.
Group 'B' NY 83709814. Situated on a slight knoll approximately 170m south east of Group 'A' are four well-defined mounds, comparable in size and construction to Group 'A' diameters ranging from 2.7m to 5.4m and heights from 0.3m-0.5m, two of which have traces of an enclosing ditch, one with the probable remains of an outer bank.
Group 'C' NY 83829817. Situated on gentle west facing slopes, 15.6m north-west of the circular Roman Tomb (NY 89 NW 8) is a well defined ditched mound 3m in diameter and 0.3m high similar to those in Groups 'A' and 'B'. Approximately 6m north of this is a low, poorly defined mound 3m in diameter similar to numerous others in Group 'A'.
In general most of these mounds (especially those to the south west of Group 'A') with their ditches and banks where evident, have relatively sharp profiles and are in a good state of preservation. They are not associated with the surface quarrying in the area and obviously pre-date the farmhouse and steading 'Petty Knowes' (ie Little Hills) named after them. With their proximity to the Roman Road (Dere St) and the Roman Tombs (NY 89 NW 8) it is surprising they have not been noted before. Without excavation their age and purpose must remain in doubt. Surveyed at 1:2500. (2)
Scheduled. (3)
Additional references. (4,5)
Centred at NY 837 982 in an area of gently undulating open moorland, are three groups of turf-covered earthen mounds, some containing small amounts of stone. (See 1:500 illustration).
Group 'A' NY 8357 9825. Situated on a north-west facing slope, below an area of surface quarrying are 45 mounds (some only visible as low poorly defined tumps) ranging from 2.5m to 5m in diameter and 0.1m to 0.5m in height. Of these mounds 15 have traces of an enclosing ditch and three have remains of an outer bank.
Group 'B' NY 83709814. Situated on a slight knoll approximately 170m south east of Group 'A' are four well-defined mounds, comparable in size and construction to Group 'A' diameters ranging from 2.7m to 5.4m and heights from 0.3m-0.5m, two of which have traces of an enclosing ditch, one with the probable remains of an outer bank.
Group 'C' NY 83829817. Situated on gentle west facing slopes, 15.6m north-west of the circular Roman Tomb (NY 89 NW 8) is a well defined ditched mound 3m in diameter and 0.3m high similar to those in Groups 'A' and 'B'. Approximately 6m north of this is a low, poorly defined mound 3m in diameter similar to numerous others in Group 'A'.
In general most of these mounds (especially those to the south west of Group 'A') with their ditches and banks where evident, have relatively sharp profiles and are in a good state of preservation. They are not associated with the surface quarrying in the area and obviously pre-date the farmhouse and steading 'Petty Knowes' (ie Little Hills) named after them. With their proximity to the Roman Road (Dere St) and the Roman Tombs (NY 89 NW 8) it is surprising they have not been noted before. Without excavation their age and purpose must remain in doubt. Surveyed at 1:2500. (2)
Scheduled. (3)
Additional references. (4,5)
N8105
Roman (43 to 410)
UNCERTAIN
UNCERTAIN
FIELD SURVEY, Petty Knowes 1975; FIELD RES GP SOC ANT
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1977; S Ainsworth
EXCAVATION, Petty Knowes 1979; Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle
HISTORIC AREA ASSESSMENT, Rochester Village Atlas (Historic Tynedale Village Atlas) ; The Archaeological Practice Ltd
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1977; S Ainsworth
EXCAVATION, Petty Knowes 1979; Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle
HISTORIC AREA ASSESSMENT, Rochester Village Atlas (Historic Tynedale Village Atlas) ; The Archaeological Practice Ltd
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