On the opening and examination of a barrow of the British period at Warkshaugh, North Tyneside / by Geo. Rome Hall.

  • Hall, George Rome.
Date:
[1865?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the opening and examination of a barrow of the British period at Warkshaugh, North Tyneside / by Geo. Rome Hall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    “Dan’s Cairn,” but Avitbout any results worthy of remark.’*^ An immense mound of earth, with deep surrounding fosse, stands at the junction of two ravines, under the great basaltic crags of Gunnarton. It resembles the so-called bell-shaped or conical barrow of the South of England, though from the conforma- tion of double ramparts and ditches which pass from bi'ink to briuk of the adjoining ravines, the idea of its use as a Avork of defence and post of observation is suggested to an observer. The “Money-Hill,” as it is popularly named, from the local tradition of concealed treasure, was lately excavated under the direction of the llev. W. Greenwell, to whom I have been much indebted for information on disputed points in connection Avith the examination of the Warkshaugh barrow, and in preparing the present account of its opening and contents. In the case of the Gunnarton Money-Hill we came upon traces of a mediaeval exploration, in the shape of the fragment of a drinking-vessel of that period. But the evidence of its sepulchral origin was at best negative, as no sufficient traces of inhumation were found to warrant any strong opinion—though such a result, after the lapse of so many ages from its first formation, cannot be consi- dered unexpected. Hor is it conclusive proof against the possi- bility of an early interment, as many of the more ancient barroAvs, generally alloAved to be such, have proved similarly unproductive. This very remarkable mound and its associated works (whether it was made for interment, for defence, or as a session mound for * This barrow is about forty feet in diameter, and tiiree feet high, after being used as a quany for the fonnation of tlie neighl50uring fence walls. The original interment had no doubt been reached, and every trace of associated relics destroyed. The name is probably a traditional reminiscence of the fearful ravages of the North-men, Dan being a familiar ren- dering of Dane, ns “ Dan's Linn,” a precipitous escarpment of limestone with ancient iron- stone workings beneath, occurs about two miles to the west of the cairn. (Compare the “Dane’s Holes” and “Danes’ Graves” of Durham and A'ork.sliire.) In one of the smaller baiTOws was found at the centre a circle of stones, set on edge, about three feet in diameter, within which only fragments of charcoal and chippings of frce.stone reddened by the action (tf fire were noticed. A similar circle wa.s discovered by the Rev. AV. Greenwell, in one of the horces which he opened in the North Riding of Yorkshire. It contained two urns with burnt bones, and a smaller uni inverted over the mouth of one of the larger unis. The stones composing the baiTOw were in both cases much burnt. (See Archseological Journal, A'^ol. XXII, Notices of the Examination of Ancient Grave Hills in the North Riding of Yorkshire, in the year 18G4.)
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