Highly disguised? | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Hob Nov 11, 2004 23:02:31

Particularly FAO Stonelifter, but also for anyone else who might share thoughts:

There seem to be a few (at least 8) possible burial mounds spread at regular(ish) points along the length of the Tyne valley. In the absence of archaeological literature or reference, how do you tell a random mound from a monument? There's academic provenance for three of the 8 barrows I'm on about. One of the others has firm conjecture from a source who's published extensively on rock art. Of the last four, two have landowners/users who reckon their respective mounds are burial mounds. The another has nowt other than an enigmatic profile, whilst the 8th one was destroyed in the 18th century.

Received wisdom says that Northumberland has bog all in the way of mounds, lots of cairns, but few mounds. The mounds there are don't seem to get talked about by archaeologists.

If anyone has any pointers in regards to the best way to spot the knackered barrow, they'd be appreciated.

Pete G Nov 11, 2004 23:15:37

Replying to Hob

Have you checked the SMR's?
http://www.magic.gov.uk/
PeteG

moss Nov 12, 2004 06:57:55

Replying to Hob

Getting up early in the morning when the suns angle catches them, frosty mornings are the best for this; the other option is of course from the air............

StoneLifter Nov 12, 2004 08:44:41

Replying to Hob

Here's a knackered barrow - http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/33014 - the camera lens was knackered too. There's many of the different kinds of barrows at Kirkhaugh and Knarsdale. There's so many it can probably be described as a cemetery. These are the only barrows I know about in detail. Most are undisturbed by human hand. One large hilltop cairn (40 X 9m) - made of boulders, perhaps with a chamber - was crushed for roadstone last year.

I guess you would recognise a barrow by its outline and plan. The even proportions of it. There's also placename support (Barrow Bridge in Bolton) and topography. It'll 'be in the right place' aesthetically. There'll be a view from it to other monuments and sites. There's a decent photograph of one here - http://www.axisartists.org/seWORK.aspx?WORKID=23614&ARTISTID=946 - for some reason I think this one might have been a 'sky burial' platform. The views are awe inspiring from there.