Threestoneburn Stone Circle

Threestoneburn Stone Circle

Viewed from the west
Shown within Northumberland
Location	near Ilderton, Northumberland
Coordinates	55°28′41.880″N 2°2′48.912″W
OS grid reference	NT 971 205
Type	Stone circle
History
Periods	Late Neolithic/early Bronze Age
Site notes
Excavation dates	1856
Scheduled monument
Designated	28 November 1932
Reference no.	1019922

Threestoneburn Stone Circle is an archaeological site, a stone circle near the village of Ilderton and about 5 miles (8 km) south of Wooler, in Northumberland, England. It is a scheduled monument.[1]

Description

The circle, of the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age, is situated in a large clearing in the modern afforestation of Threestoneburn Wood,[1] formerly overlooking a spacious valley to the east.[2] It is on a slight promontory near the confluence of Threestone Burn and one of its tributaries. Its dimensions are 36 metres (118 ft) north-west to south-east by 30 metres (98 ft) north-east to south-west. There are 16 stones of local pink granite, set about 5.5 metres (18 ft) apart; a larger gap on the east side is thought to be an original entrance. Four of these are upright, with heights 0.7 to 1.3 metres (2 ft 4 in to 4 ft 3 in); the rest are recumbent.[1]

About 28 metres (92 ft) 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, 9 metres (30 ft) apart.[1]

Excavation

There was partial excavation in 1856. A thick layer of peat was found above the ground surface. A flint tool was found,[1] and spreads of charcoal which may be the traces of fire-rituals.[2]

See also

• Stone circles in the British Isles and Brittany

References

1. Historic England. "Stone circle and stone alignment 370m west of Threestoneburn House (1019922)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
2. Aubrey Burl. The Stone Circles of the British Isles. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1976. Pages 284–285.