Elgees illustration of a section of a barrow at Cawthorne Camps.
“The barrow was 65yds round and 7 feet high and had been constructed of nine alternate layers of sand, burnt clay and limestone rubble.
Early Man in North-East Yorkshire
Frank Elgee
1930
Although Cawthorne is famous for its Roman remains, it was by no means unoccupied before they arrived.
James Ruddock of Pickering opened a barrow at Cawthorne on 26th November 1849 and found a bronze dagger, a flint spearhead and two skeletons. Ruddock was said to have opened over 300 barrows.
Another 19th century barrow digger, Thomas Kendal of Pickering, excavated a chariot burial close to the camps.
Numerous beakers and food vessels have also been found in the Cawthorne area.
