Duddo Four Stones. Photo by Harry Rowland.

(NT 93054370) Duddo Four Stones (T.I). Stone Circle (L.B.). (1)

There are six stones in 1889 forming a circle ten yards in diameter, the largest stone being about eight feet high. (2)

A fine circle and apparently a true stone circle. One fragment of pottery was found in 2/5/1923. The stones are of weathered sandstone (See sketch plan for dimensions). (3)

Scheduled. (4)

Published Survey (25 inch) revised. See GPs Ao/55/276/5 and 6. (5)

The circle consists of five considerably weathered stones, with no indication of a sixth, apart from two fragments of similar stone, now recumbent between stones 4 and 5 (on sketch) which may be its remains. Published survey (25 inch) correct. (6)

Excavation of the Duddo Four Stones circle was undertaken circa 1890 when a central pit was uncovered containing 'much charcoal and bone'. Two socket holes were also found in the south-west gap of the circle (called the north-west gap in the text). (7)

Additional bibliography. (8)

A row of manmade cup marks are carved on the large east facing stone. (9)

'The remains of an outer circle were a while ago discovered at the usual distance. (10)

Geophysical survey in 2007 was undertaken to try and identify the likely location of an outer circle. An area 90m by 150m was surveyed, minus the scheduled area. An anomaly north of the circle suggested a feature of similar size to the circle (about 10m diameter).
Excavation of five trenches followed to investigate linear features seen on aerial photographs and clusters of anomalies on geophysical plots, as well as the chronology of the monument. There is no surviving evidence of an outer circle but two lost stone-holes were located by excavation. No traces of the geophysical or aerial anomalies were found by excavation.
The construction and re-use of the circle have been dated: the stones were raised at some point in the very late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, between 2200-1900 calBC. The fluting on the stones is a natural occurrence produced by physical erosion by wind and water (rillenkarren). The stones were erected in relatively shallow sockets (0.6m and 0.7m below ground current level for the two excavated. The positioning of the stones shows that a perfect circle was never present at Duddo. There is no evidence of in-situ human remains in any of the sockets and no contemporary features yielding burial deposits. The circle did become a focus for burial in the late Early Bronze Age: a cremation was buried in the centre of the monument some time between 1770 and 1610 calBC. Later Neolithic and Early Bronze Age material culture is represented by a single snapped and calcined flint blade recovered from the topsoil. In Area 2, west of the circle, two linear features were discovered, which appear to be construction trenches or boundary features, and of a different date to the circle.
Archaeological deposits within the circuit of the stones survive well where they remain unaffected by antiquarian activity or the small amnount of animal burrowing; plough damage within the monument appears to have been slight. Beyond the stones, modern plough damage has truncated all but the deepest of negative fetures. (11)(13)

A small stone circle in tillage field on Duddo Farm. It comprises five or six small stones.
A circle of five stones on a hilltop site. The outside diameter is about 10.5m. The stones vary in height from 1.5m to 2.3m. Largest stone is 1.8m wide by 0.5m deep. The circle is open to the west where one stone may be missing. Very weathered with vertical runnels. (12)

The stone circle was known as the Four Stones until 1903, at which time the fifth stone was apparently re-erected to further improve the silhouette of the circle against the skyline. (14)

NT 931 437. Duddo Five Stones, Felkington. Standing on the top of a large knoll near the River Tweed this small ring, 32ft (9.8m) in diameter consists of five heavy, weatherworn stones deeply runnelled by rain. All of coarse local sandstone, they stand up to 7ft 6ins (2.3m) high. Of the present stones the ENE was re-erected after 1903 explaining whythe circle was known as the 'Four Stones' in the 19th century. The site is conspicuous and the stones stand sharply against the skyline. It is almost certain that several other stones had fallen and been set upright. They do not stand circumferentially as is customary but are at eccentic angles to the perimeter of the ring. Low stones between them are unlikely to be original. All move if gently pushed. About 1890 a somewhat undisciplined dig found two stoneholes in a gap at the NW. There was a wide central pit with 'much charcoal and bone'. No trace was found of a reputed outer ring. (15a)

NT 931 436. Duddo stone circle. Scheduled No ND/13. (15b)

General association with HER 2344 (The Duddo Stone Rock Art). (15)