Romano-Celtic shrine 540m ESE of South Yardhope (Harbottle)
Scheduled. (1)
The Yardhope shrine is briefly described in an article on the archaeological remains of the Otterburn Ranges. The natural chamber in the sandstone is a 2m square area located just below the summit of the Fell Sandstone ridge which contained evidence of military activities yielded during the 1980s excavation by Charlton and Mitcheson. (2)
NY 933 033. A shrine of ?Cocidius in natural rock-hollow: warrior god carved in relief on rock face. (3a)
A shrine discovered in Spring 1980 and excavated in June of that year by the Field Research Group of the Society of Antiqaries of Newcastle upon Tyne. The site lies within the MOD's Otterburn Training Area and the exact NGR is withheld at their request. The shrine is situated high on the south side of the narrow valley of the Holystone Burn in Upper Coquetdale, at a height of 300m above OD. On the west side of a narrow gulley faulting in the bed-rock has formed a natural chamber, almost square, with its entrance on the east. Carved on the face of the rock on the north side of the entrance, and framed in a mushroom-shaped niche, is the full frontal figure of the god, 32cm high. Facing east, the figure stands with his feet slightly apart and his arms outstretched. In his right hand he holds a spear, in his left he brandishes the reverse of a small round shield. Apart from what appears to be a close-fitting cap or helmet, pulled low over his jutting brows, he is completely naked but non-phallic. Near his right hand, at the entrance, and carved out of the rock which forms the north wall of the shrine, is a narrow ledge, 40cm long and 15cm wide, which may have been used for a lamp or offerings from worshippers. Above the ledge, a groove chiselled along the top of the rock probably held supports for a sloping roof. The stone slab which formed the south side of the entrance abutted a natural rock outcrop which had been built up to a surviving height of 1.2m by drystone walling. Within the shrine, in the south-east corner, was a flue or chimney.
The excavation found no artefacts except 20th century military debris, and charcoal from an internal hearth produced a date not later than 1963 AD, indicating continued re-use of the shrine as a military bivouac. The carving suggests a pre-Roman, Celtic, origin for the shrine, adopted in the later period. Full report and consideration of the identity of the carving. (3b)
The Yardhope shrine is briefly described in an article on the archaeological remains of the Otterburn Ranges. The natural chamber in the sandstone is a 2m square area located just below the summit of the Fell Sandstone ridge which contained evidence of military activities yielded during the 1980s excavation by Charlton and Mitcheson. (2)
NY 933 033. A shrine of ?Cocidius in natural rock-hollow: warrior god carved in relief on rock face. (3a)
A shrine discovered in Spring 1980 and excavated in June of that year by the Field Research Group of the Society of Antiqaries of Newcastle upon Tyne. The site lies within the MOD's Otterburn Training Area and the exact NGR is withheld at their request. The shrine is situated high on the south side of the narrow valley of the Holystone Burn in Upper Coquetdale, at a height of 300m above OD. On the west side of a narrow gulley faulting in the bed-rock has formed a natural chamber, almost square, with its entrance on the east. Carved on the face of the rock on the north side of the entrance, and framed in a mushroom-shaped niche, is the full frontal figure of the god, 32cm high. Facing east, the figure stands with his feet slightly apart and his arms outstretched. In his right hand he holds a spear, in his left he brandishes the reverse of a small round shield. Apart from what appears to be a close-fitting cap or helmet, pulled low over his jutting brows, he is completely naked but non-phallic. Near his right hand, at the entrance, and carved out of the rock which forms the north wall of the shrine, is a narrow ledge, 40cm long and 15cm wide, which may have been used for a lamp or offerings from worshippers. Above the ledge, a groove chiselled along the top of the rock probably held supports for a sloping roof. The stone slab which formed the south side of the entrance abutted a natural rock outcrop which had been built up to a surviving height of 1.2m by drystone walling. Within the shrine, in the south-east corner, was a flue or chimney.
The excavation found no artefacts except 20th century military debris, and charcoal from an internal hearth produced a date not later than 1963 AD, indicating continued re-use of the shrine as a military bivouac. The carving suggests a pre-Roman, Celtic, origin for the shrine, adopted in the later period. Full report and consideration of the identity of the carving. (3b)
N1190
EXCAVATION, Yardhope shrine 1980; Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle
HISTORIC AREA ASSESSMENT, Holystone Village Atlas ; The Archaeological Practice Ltd
HISTORIC AREA ASSESSMENT, Holystone Village Atlas ; The Archaeological Practice Ltd
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