Monument record 1511 - Bronze Age barrow at Woodhouse End

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Summary

A Bronze Age barrow at Woodhouse End was excavated in the 1960s. It was a round sand and cobble mound, 20 metres across and 1 metre high. Round barrows are a type of burial mound, particularly used in the Bronze Age. Mounds of earth and stone were placed over a burial or cremation. A single barrow could be re-used for several later burials. The primary burial pit in this barrow contained a finely decorated beaker and flint knife but no human remains. There were also three cremated burials in pottery urns and two without urns. In addition a large number of pottery fragments were found representing at least 23 vessels. A number of worked flints, two stone hammers and the fragments of jet or shale rings were also found. This is possibly the one of the earliest known round barrows in the county.The barrow was reconstructed after excavation Beakers are a type of bronze age pottery. They are thin walled often with elaborate decoration and a burnished surface. There is a strong contrast between these vessels and other thick walled hand built bronze age pottery. At one time it was suggested that this pottery belonged to a distinct group of settlers from mainland Europe, known as the beaker people. It seems more likely that this distinct style was introduced to Britain and then adopted by the existing population over a period of time rather than a one off "invasion"

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Full Description

Bronze Age barrow at Woodhouse End excavated 1966-8 by D Bethell & G Rowley.Round sand & cobble mound 20m diam & 1m high.Primary pit contained Beaker.Secondary burials include 2 inurned cremations within Collared Urns, one inverted & with Food vessel,a 3rd inurned cremation & 2 cremations without urns.Mound damaged by Home Guard dug-out,restored to its original condition after excavation (1).Finds include a long-necked beaker, with 2 applied ribs or cordons,below the rim & around the base of the neck.The vessel was accompanied by a triangular flint knife.The other urns are undecorated,one associated with a small flint flake,a larger flint implement & a pulley-shaped clay object.The other burial was accompanied by a globular urn, a flint fragment, a flint implement & a conical object of baked clay. A small flint flake accompanied the first unurned burial.At least 23 vessels represented & 32 flint artefacts & 2 hammer heads (2). A full report of the excavations published (6). Longley discusses the site as one of the earliest known round barrows in the county, with evidence for Middle Bronze Age re-use. Classifies primary burial urn as a Step 6 Beaker ((1). Majority of barrow excavated and then reconstructed in 1960's (7).

<1> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/83 Longley D 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<2> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 2/25-26 Rowley G 1974 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ96NW2/1969 (Index). SCH2487.

<4> Council for British Archaeology, Various, CBA Group 5 Archaeological Newsletter, 9/9 Bethell D & Rowley G 1967 (Newsletter). SCH547.

<5> Rowley G 1982, 1982, Macclesfield in Prehistory, Rowley G 1982 /26,31-35 (Book). SCH2062.

<6> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Rowley G 1977 60/1-34 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<7> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, 1990-1992, MPP Scoring Form, 1993 Robinson K D (Unpublished Document). SCH2222.

<8> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.40 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

Sources/Archives (8)

<1> SCH3556 Book: Harris, B.E. (ed). 1987. Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I. 1/83 Longley D 1987.
<2> SCH565 Journal/Periodical: County Historic Environment Record. 1973-1985. Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin. 1-10. 2/25-26 Rowley G 1974.
<3> SCH2487 Index: Ordnance Survey. 1870-1982. Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card. SJ96NW2/1969.
<4> SCH547 Newsletter: Council for British Archaeology. Various. CBA Group 5 Archaeological Newsletter. 9/9 Bethell D & Rowley G 1967.
<5> SCH2062 Book: Rowley G 1982. 1982. Macclesfield in Prehistory. Rowley G 1982 /26,31-35.
<6> SCH1595 Journal/Periodical: Chester Archaeological Society. Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. Rowley G 1977 60/1-34.
<7> SCH2222 Unpublished Document: Cheshire Historic Environment Record. 1990-1992. MPP Scoring Form. 1993 Robinson K D.
<8> SCH2005 Paper Archive: Longley D. 1977-1978. Longley Archive. /no.40.

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Location

Grid reference	Centred SJ 914 695 (22m by 21m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	SJ96NW
Civil Parish	GAWSWORTH, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE EAST
Historic Township/Parish/County	GAWSWORTH, GAWSWORTH, CHESHIRE

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Record last edited

Jun 17 2021 10:36AM