NT 939335: A henge monument, with an apparent irregular segmented ditch with a single north-west facing entrance was recorded from air photographs at Milfield South and was subsequently excavated in 1977-78. The henge's flat bottomed ditch was found to be segmented and was 3.5-5m wide with a depth of 1.45-2.05m below present ground surface. The focal point of the site was a large deep pit in the west central part of the henge's interior. The base of the pit contained a 2.65m by 2m sub-rectangular stone setting with a charcoal layer running through its fill. A roughly-shaped cup-marked rock had been deliberately placed in the middle of the western end of the stone setting. Radiocarbon dating indicated an early Bronze Age date from this phase. The stratification of the fill above the stone setting revealed a shadow of a post with stone packing which had been inserted into the pit. The upper layers of the pit were greatly disturbed by intrusive Anglo-Saxon graves containing inhumations. These were also found over most of the interior of the site. (1)

Classic henge. (2)

Cup marked stone discovered [details as above]. Stone measured 0.33m x 0.27m x 0.11m thick. Cup mark 45-50mm diameter x 20mm deep. (3) (7e)

Three main phases of activity recognised in 1978 excavations:
a) grid of pits covered the site. All the finds from them are modern. Function unknown. Apparently unconnected with nearby airfield;
b) series of inhumation graves inside the ditch of the henge. 37 probable graves found in 1978. Cemetery may be connected with Anglo-Saxon palace site of Melmin. All the graves lie within the henge ditch;
c) Large pit near centre of henge [details as Authority 1]. (4)

A henge monument occupies a low knoll at 45m OD next to the A697 Wooler to Coldstream road. The monument is oval in plan and measures 35m NE-SW by 30m NW-SE overall. In the NW sector, the ditch is broken by an entrance 5m broad. (5)

The eastern extent of the southern ditch of the henge appears to have been bisected by the excavation of a Northumbrian Water service trench in March 2014. A radiocarbon date from a charred wood sample from a secondary fill of ditch (1045) returned a date of 2295-2062 cal BC. Consequently, the southern ditch of the Milfield South henge was constructed sometime prior to this
date within the `Beaker' period making it contemporary with other nearby ritual sites such as the Duddo stone circle. It is also of note that the presence of re-deposited natural sand and gravel (1047), within ditch F.1050, could indicate that a partially eroded bank made from the ditch upcast existed inside the henge ditch. The presence of two pits (1069 and 1078) in close proximity to ditch (1050) may also be indicative of internal features associated with activity related to the henge; no chronological phasing could be assigned to either feature and their function is unknown. Other linear features remain undated with some interpreted as likely post-medieval post-pits. (6)

A Neolithic henge monument occupies a low knoll at 45m AOD beside the A697 road. The monument is oval in shape and measures c.35m north-east to south-west by c.30m north-west to south-east. In the north-western sector the ditch is broken by an entrance c.5m broad. (7a)

Aerial photograph references. (7b-d)

The site has been mapped from the air as part of the Milfield Geoarchaeology Project. (See archive object MD000295) (7)

General association with HER 2010, HER 30278 and HER 30279 and is referred to by HER 2039. (8)