Monument Number 28854 |
| Hob Uid: 28854 | |
Location :
North Yorkshire
Scarborough
Danby
|
| Grid Ref : NZ7059605768 |
| Summary : Situated halfway between the two cross dykes on Danby Rigg there is an oval ring bank which was identified as a Bronze Age ring cairn and excavated by Atkinson in 1863. However it was excavated in 1956 by Lamplough, who found no evidence of the central pit recorded in the previous century. Instead it is now considered to be one of the enclosures of the Bronze Age field system which covers the rigg. Finds from the site have included a flint flake and scraper, the broken point of a arrowhead and potsherds of a possible urn. In addition, charcoal fragments may indicate a cremation burial. The cairn or enclosure was also mapped as part of the North York Moors NMP project, visible as an earthwork on air photographs. The cairn is defined by a sub-circular earthen bank with a maximum internal diameter measuring 19m. An opening appears to be located to the north-east.The cairn is extant on the latest 2009 vertical photography. Scheduled. |
More information : (NZ 70590575) Enclosure (NR)
(1)
In the area between the two cross ridge works (centred: NZ 708060 &
NZ 70 NW 11) there is a burial circle 70ft in diameter enclosing a
central grave.
(2)
An earth circle was examined by Atkinson; diameter 60ft ring six
feet wide and four to five feet high, the outer side being of large
stones. At the centre was a six feet wide by 4 1/2ft deep hole cut
partly into the solid rock. It was filled only by loose stones.
(3)
The earthwork was excavated by Hayes and W H Lamplough in 1956;
diameter 68ft to 64ft, bank of piled stones average
width ten feet and height two to three feet. Upright
stones on N and S sides seemed to make entrances. Excavation
disproved S entrance as bank continued beneath. N side did show gap
about four feet diameter but it could be due to passage of turf
sleds over circle.
This circle was thought to be that described in Auth 1 but no sign
of Atkinson's excavation in the centre was found (? possibly NZ 70
NW 16, which has a hole within it). All the central area appeared
undisturbed and sealed by a thick iron pan. Slight pits under the
pan yielded flint flake and scraper. The broken point of an
arrowhead was found in upper stones of the bank; very little flint
found. Potsherds under bank to NW side and scraps near N entrance
probably of plain overhanging rim urn? Very few pieces of bone and
none calcined. Pit two feet deep near E bank was empty apart from
charcoal fragments; could have held inhumation. Otherwise no sign
of burial as in Great Ayton henge-type circles.
(4)
A sub-circular enclosure formed by a rubble bank 3m wide
and up to 0.4m high, with traces of internal and external
facing stones; internal dimensions of the ring 17m N-S by 15m E-W.
The northern gap in the bank appears to be an original entrance
giving access to a featureless interior. In all respects the work is
consistent with an enclosed cremation cemetery.
Published survey (25") revised.
(5)
The Bronze Age cairn or enclosure was also mapped as part of the North York Moors NMP project, visible as an earthwork on air photographs and centred at NZ 7060 0577. The cairn is defined by a sub-circular earthen bank with a maximum internal diameter measuring 19m. An opening appears to be located to the north-east. The cairn forms part of a larger predominantly Bronze Age landscape and is extant on the latest 2009 vertical photography.
(7-8)
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