Robin Hoods Butts |
Hob Uid: 1397312 | |
Location : North Yorkshire Scarborough LCPs of Fylingdales and Hawsker-cum-Stainsacre
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Grid Ref : NZ9625001930 |
Summary : A group of three round barrows, generally known as Robin Hood's Butts since the mid-19th century. The name was first used on Warburton's map of 1720, but this and several later sources suggest that the pair now known as 'Beacon Howes' were originally called Robin Hood's Butts. The three barrows occupy a prominent location on the crest of Stoupe Brow. Though grouped in a triangle and of similar size, there is nothing to indicate that this was a deliberate formation from the outset, nor that the three monuments are precisely contemporary. Each barrow is composed of earth and stone and has a central pit. These pits probably result from 18th- or 19th-century excavations, but the westernmost mound has also been damaged by the construction of Second World War weapons pits. The northern mound has been severely robbed, apparently to construct an adjoining complex of pen-like enclosures. Both the others have traces of a circular ditch and counterscarp bank, which may indicate multiple constructional phases.These barrows were accurately mapped as part of a recording project following a wild fire on Brow Moor in September 2003 which destroyed the heather vegetation. They are as described above but, additionally, a series of low earth and stone banked enclosures of possible Bronze Age date were visible abutting the northern-most barrow; these enclosures are recorded separately (see monument UID 1449953). |
More information : NZ 963019. A group of three round barrows known as Robin Hood's Butts. The three barrows are arranged in a triangular formation and occupy a prominent location on the crest of Stoupe Brow. Each barrow mound is composed of earth and stone and has a central depression. These hollows were caused by partial excavations in the 1890s which uncovered cremation burials and associated grave goods. Scheduled. (1)
Robin Hood's Butts centered at NZ 9629 0191(NAT). (2)
One of the barrow group known as Robin Hood's Butts was excavated in 1849 by J Tissiman. A trench was dug into the south side of the barrow and a number of urns, cremated human remains and other artefacts were found. Not all the urns survived the excavation process. The mound was descrbed as being 42' in diameter and 8' deep at that time. Finds are thought to be in the Rotunda Museum of Archaeology and Local History, Scarborough. (3)
The barrows were opened in 1890 by Greenwell. The source contains reports and illustrations of finds from barrows in the parish of Fylingdale. (4)
The Robin Hoods Butts barrows were surveyed and mapped as part of a project to record the archaeology of Brow Moor, Howdale Moor and Stony Marl Moor following a wild fire in September 2003 which destroyed the protective layer of heather vegetation. The project included mapping from air photographs using digital photogrammetry and also analytical field survey. A brief description and more accurate grid references for the barrows as follows:-
NZ 96265 01978: Barrow of approximate diameter 18 metres and evidence of a number of pits dug into the mound presumably the central one of which is an old excavation trench possibly dug by Greenwell. Additionally, the removal of the heather vegetation by the fire revealed a series of low earth and stone banks forming enclosures abutting the barrow on its west, north and east sides. These were investigated in detail through field survey and have been interpreted as possible livestock enclosures and are thought to represent up to four phases of activity. Some of the pitting in the mound of the barrow could be a result of stone-robbing for these enclosures. Their date is uncertain but thought likely to be Bronze Age. They are recorded separately (see monument UID 1449953).
NZ 96293 01916: Barrow of approximate diameter 17 metres with evidence of an outer ditch and counterscarp bank. A number of pits have been dug into the mound, the central one probably represents Greenwell's excavation. There is also a further trench in the southern part of the mound which, according to the description given by authority 3, could be that dug by J.Tissiman. Other pits are probably associated with World War II military training activity. This area of moorland was used as a militarly training area during World War II and there is widespread evidence of this activity which is recorded separately (see monument UID 1449886)
NZ 96296 01898: Barrow of approximate diameter 21m with evidence of outer ditch and counterscarp bank. Three pits have been dug into the mound - the central pit again presumably represents the excavation of Greenwell. Another pit dug into the southern part of the mound again may represent Tissiman's excavation. The third pit dug into the eastern part of the mound is thought to represent a World War II gun pit. (5-6)
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