Key
U Burial Urn
C Cremation
f Flint
rp Rubbish Pit
Note :- Illustration takan from “The Surviving Past” by John Hallam
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
