Black Law, burial cairn (Wooler; Akeld)
Published accounts. (1-2)
[NT 9456 2771] A denuded Bronze Age burial cairn with a diameter of c.17m. It is located on the Akeld-Wooler parish boundary near the summit of Black Law. When first discovered it was mistaken for a ring cairn but excavations conducted in 1981 and 1982 showed that it was just the rim of more substantial structure. The discovery of a clay pipe stem during the excavation was taken as evidence that the cairn was robbed in the 18th century, probably to provide stone for a nearby dyke. Excavations also revealed a number of burial pits and a boat-shaped cist. None of these contained a burial but scattered pieces of burnt bone were found throughout the site. Other finds included sherds of food vessels and a flint knife. Adjacent to this cairn is a smaller clearence cairn which was found to contain significant numbers of flints. Also close by was a penannular ring bank with a diameter of c.8m. It is speculated that the latter feature was not a habitation structure as its entrance faces into the prevailing wind. (3a-b)
An indistinct ring form, which is presumably the main cairn, can be seen on a group of aerial photos taken in 1979. (3c)
An aerial photo taken in 1982 shows disturbance in the vicinity of the cairn, presumably as a result of the 1981 season of excavations. (3d)
[NT 9456 2771] A denuded Bronze Age burial cairn with a diameter of c.17m. It is located on the Akeld-Wooler parish boundary near the summit of Black Law. When first discovered it was mistaken for a ring cairn but excavations conducted in 1981 and 1982 showed that it was just the rim of more substantial structure. The discovery of a clay pipe stem during the excavation was taken as evidence that the cairn was robbed in the 18th century, probably to provide stone for a nearby dyke. Excavations also revealed a number of burial pits and a boat-shaped cist. None of these contained a burial but scattered pieces of burnt bone were found throughout the site. Other finds included sherds of food vessels and a flint knife. Adjacent to this cairn is a smaller clearence cairn which was found to contain significant numbers of flints. Also close by was a penannular ring bank with a diameter of c.8m. It is speculated that the latter feature was not a habitation structure as its entrance faces into the prevailing wind. (3a-b)
An indistinct ring form, which is presumably the main cairn, can be seen on a group of aerial photos taken in 1979. (3c)
An aerial photo taken in 1982 shows disturbance in the vicinity of the cairn, presumably as a result of the 1981 season of excavations. (3d)
N1485
EXCAVATION, Black Law summit 1981; SPEAK, S
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