Threestoneburn Stone Circle is an archaeological site, a
stone circle
A stone circle is a ring of megalithic standing stones. Most are found in Northwestern Europe – especially Stone circles in the British Isles and Brittany – and typically date from the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, with most being ...
near the village of
Ilderton and about south of
Wooler
Wooler ( ) is a town in Northumberland, England. It lies on the edge of the Northumberland National Park, near the Cheviot Hills. It is a popular base for walkers and is referred to as the "Gateway to the Cheviots". As well as many shops and ...
, in
Northumberland
Northumberland ( ) is a ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North East England, on the Anglo-Scottish border, border with Scotland. It is bordered by the North Sea to the east, Tyne and Wear and County Durham to the south, Cumb ...
, England. It is a
scheduled monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage, visu ...
.
Description
The circle, of the late
Neolithic
The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...
or early
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...
, is situated in a large clearing in the modern afforestation of Threestoneburn Wood,
[ formerly overlooking a spacious valley to the east.][ It is on a slight promontory near the confluence of Threestone Burn and one of its tributaries. Its dimensions are north-west to south-east by north-east to south-west. There are 16 stones of local pink granite, set about apart; a larger gap on the east side is thought to be an original entrance. Four of these are upright, with heights ; the rest are recumbent.][
About to the north are two granite stones, one of which is recumbent; immediately to their east is an alignment of three stones lying in the surface layer of ]peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially Decomposition, decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, Moorland, moors, or muskegs. ''Sphagnum'' moss, also called peat moss, is one of the most ...
, apart.[
]
Excavation
There was partial excavation in 1856. A thick layer of peat was found above the ground surface. A flint tool was found,[ and spreads of charcoal which may be the traces of fire-rituals.]Aubrey Burl
Harry Aubrey Woodruff Burl (24 September 1926 – 8 April 2020) was a British archaeologist best known for his studies into megalithic monuments and the nature of prehistoric rituals associated with them. Before retirement, he was Principal Le ...
. ''The Stone Circles of the British Isles''. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1976. Pages 284–285.
See also
* Stone circles in the British Isles and Brittany
References
{{reflist
Scheduled monuments in Northumberland
Archaeological sites in Northumberland
Stone circles in England