More information : On the north-east side of the hill, on which the camp is (NZ 09 NE 2)
are some grave-mounds. Two of the largest have been excavated. The
first was 32 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. A cist was found in
the centre lying east-west and measuring 3' 8" by 1' 10" by 2' 3"
deep. There was no trace of a burial. This cist can yet been seen
with its covering slab lying nearby, on the lower ridge of the hill
on the way to the camp, after the last stile on the footpath from
Rothbury to Lordenshaws.
The second, 20 yards away, was 26 feet in diameter, 4 feet high, and
a cist found in the centre completely filled with sand with no trace
of bone, measured 2' 8" by 1' 8" by 1' 6" deep. There was a little
charcoal together with two small pieces of pottery. A line of small
stones may be traced from these burials leading up to the ridge
towards the camp. (1)
(NZ 05749958) Cist (TI) (2)
Excavation report: Source of information in authority (1). (3)
Two small pieces of pottery in a barrow.(Present location not given.
Listed under "Urns known from literature only").
At Lordenshaws a burial mound approx 300 yards NE of the camp has on
its margin a carefully packed standing stone 2' 6" high by 2' 0" by
1'6", deeply weathered. (4)
NZ 056993. Six cairns were definitely located on the NE slopes of
the hill. Other vague mounds in the region appear to be heather-covered outcrop.
'A' NZ 05749958. The remains of a cairn with an apparent diameter of
7.5m and maximum height of 0.3m. In the centre is the cist mentioned
by authorities 1 and 2. It measures 1.3m x 0.65m x 0.5m deep. The
N, S and E sides are constructed of a single stone slab but the west
end is of small stones packed together. The cover slab of the cist
lies to the immediate south.
'B' NZ 05739959. About 15.0m NW of 'A' a scatter of stones on a
slight natural rise is probably the remains of the second cairn
referred to by authority 1. Insufficient remains for dimensions to
be given. On the south side of this scatter is a three-sided cavity
in the rocks measuring 0.8m x 0.5m x 0.5m deep. This may be the
second cist described by authority 1, the dimensions being
approximately the same. The present location of the two pieces of
pottery mentioned as being found therein was not ascertained.
'C' NZ 05589942. The cairn refered to by authority 4 is 7.0m in
diameter and 0.5m high with a hollow in centre. At least three
stones of a retaining circle are still in situ. The standing stone
is in the SW quadrant and appears to be merely an extension of a line
of stones, 20.0m to the south, evidently the remains of an old field
boundary.
This boundary has similarities of construction with an enclosure
approx 900.0m to the NNE which is mentioned in the 13th century.
'D' NZ 05639940. A cairn 8.0m in diameter and 0.5m high with a
hollow in centre. At least five stones of a retaining circle are
still in situ.
'E' NZ 05689929. An oval cairn measuring 7.0m x 5.0m x 1.0m high and
oriented E-W. It appears to be intact.
'F' NZ 05889935. Cairn 5.0m diameter and 0.4m high. None of the
cairns have any traces of a ditch and only 'C' and 'D' the remains of
a retaining circle.
NZ 05739955 to NZ 05609939. The line of stones referred to by
authority 1 can be traced for 200.0m. The stones are small (max ht
above ground level 0.4m) and irregularly spaced and appear to
demarcate the east side of an old trackway which appears in places as
a slight hollow way. No evidence for dating. (5)
Cairns 'C' and 'D' by virtue of their proportions (see photographs),
and the evidence of peristaliths must be classed with 'A' and 'B' as
sepulchral, although all four fall in an area that shows signs of
having been cleared for cultivation (see NZ 09 NE 9).
Similarly 'E' is a substantial and isolated cairn in a modern
enclosure. 'F' is smaller than the other five, and its position on
the fringe of stone clearance is suspect, but again it is a single
cairn in an area otherwise devoid of stone heaps. Surveyed at 1/2500.
(For 1/2500 illust see NZ 09 NE 2). (6)
NZ 058 992 etc. Cup and ring marked rocks, stone rows, tumuli, cairns
and Garleigh Hill stone circles and Lordenshaws camp, Hesleyhurst.
Scheduled No ND/86. (7)
Authority 5's cairn C lies within the area surveyed by RCHME in
December 1990 and is briefly described in the published account,
where it is noted that it is in a conspicuous position when seen
from the lower ground to the east. (8)
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