Threestoneburn Stone Circle

{{Short description|Archaeological site in Northumberland, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox ancient site

|name = Threestoneburn Stone Circle

|native_name =

|alternate_name =

|image = Threestoneburn Stone Circle - geograph.org.uk - 1836990.jpg

|image_size =

|alt =

|caption = Viewed from the west

|map_type = Northumberland

|map_alt =

|map_size = 200

|location = near Ilderton, Northumberland

|altitude_m =

|region =

|coordinates = {{coord|55|28|41.880|N|2|2|48.912|W|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:GB}}

|gbgridref = NT 971 205

|type = Stone circle

|area =

|epochs = Late Neolithic/early Bronze Age

|cultures =

| excavations = 1856

| archaeologists =

| designation1 = Scheduled monument

| designation1_number = 1019922

| designation1_date = 28 November 1932

}}

Threestoneburn Stone Circle is an archaeological site, a stone circle near the village of Ilderton and about {{convert|5|mi|0}} south of Wooler, in Northumberland, England. It is a scheduled monument.{{NHLE|num=1019922 |desc=Stone circle and stone alignment 370m west of Threestoneburn House|access-date= 22 January 2022}}

Description

The circle, of the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age, 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 {{convert|36|m}} north-west to south-east by {{convert|30|m}} north-east to south-west. There are 16 stones of local pink granite, set about {{convert|5.5|m}} apart; a larger gap on the east side is thought to be an original entrance. Four of these are upright, with heights {{convert|0.7|to|1.3|m}}; the rest are recumbent.

About {{convert|28|m}} 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, {{convert|9|m}} 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. The Stone Circles of the British Isles. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1976. Pages 284–285.

See also

References