The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Astley Hall Farm Bronze Age Burial Site

Enclosure

Fieldnotes

Although nothing now exist of this site, I think that it needs a mention on TMA as it is one of the few Bronze Age Burial Sites to be found in Lancashire.

Discovered in 1963 when a farmer uncovered a burial urn in land adjacent to Astley Hall Farm. Excavations of the site was carried out between 1974 and 1977 when a further urn and four cremations in shallow pits were unearthed.

Four of the six burials where found in an area enclosed by a ditch or trench 36feet in diameter the other two on the southern edge of the feature.

At the southern end of the feature there appeared to be an entrance and a cobbled forecourt, but as this area had been disturbed my digging.

30 feet to the south a pit was found containing 30 sherds of prehistoric pottery and a handful of flints. Charcoal and evidence of burn was also found.

A further three empty pits were found, one in the central area and the other two to the east.

URN 1 contained the remains of a 40-year-old female with signs of osteo-arthritis. The remains of a second younger body were also present. The urn also contained a burnt small flint knife and a struck flake of igneous rock believed to be Neolithic.

URN 2 contained the remains of a seven year old. It was noted that the bones had a green tinge probable caused by the breakdown of a copper or bronze article. The urn also contained charcoal, earth and pebbles, fragments of a miniature collared urn and fragment of what was either a small wooden bowl or cup.

CREMATION 1 contained the remains of at least one body.

CREMATION 2 contained the remains of the one body of a child or adolescent.

CREMATION 3 contained the remains of the one body.

CREMATION 4 contained the remains of an adult.

This information was taken from The Surviving Past by John Hallam
Rivington Pike Posted by Rivington Pike
26th June 2003ce

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