Cairns and Burial Mounds

Here we give you some extra details about the cairns and burial mounds that you are likely to see if you follow the designated path along the Simonside ridge.

Site 1: NZ 02599986

‘About 120 yards south of Willie’s Cairn, between the 900 and 1000 foot contour lines, a large cairn 26ft in diameter and 6ft high was opened and found to contain three burials, two in cists and one in a cinerary urn. The central cist containing the primary burial, 3ft long and oriented east/west, was 2ft below natural ground level.  It had three covering slabs and was roughly lined with stones but contained no burial remains. The second cist, 5ft south-south-west of that in the centre was oriented south-west/ north-east, and measured 3ft 3ins x 1ft 8ins x 1ft 7ins deep. It had two covering slabs and contained a large quantity of calcined bones and ashes, evidently the remains of several burnt bodies……Judging from the reddened appearance of the closely surrounding stones and soil, it is probable that the bodies were burnt on the site of the burial.’ (Dixon 1892, 28) (1, 2).

To the east of the central cist at a distance of 4ft was a cinerary urn, inverted on a flat stone. ‘This stone showed no traces of having been through fire; therefore in this case the body or bodies had not been burnt on the place of internment, but the contents of the urn showed that the funeral pyre had been on a spot not far off, the bones and ashes within the urn being mixed with the native peat soil and pieces of local sandstone’ (Dixon 1892, 28). The cinerary urn measured 12ins in diameter at its widest part and 9.5ins at the top, with an original height of 12ins.  It has an overhanging rim decorated with vertical and horizontal lines, and below the rim a zigzag pattern. The urn was full of burnt bones and also contained a flint implement, possibly a knife, and several sherds of pottery, probably from another urn. The so-called knife is described by Dixon as “3 inches long and 1.5 inches wide.  One side is very neatly flaked; the other side is flat, just as the piece has been split off the block or core.”  (Dixon 1892).  Hope-Dodds (1940, 47, 50) however describes the flint implement as a large scraper.

Two urns of the food vessel type were also found within the cairn, both standing upright.  ‘One was 18ins south of the cinerary urn and the other 3ft south-east of the central cist.  Only one has been preserved; it is 5.5ins in diameter at its widest part and 5ins at the top, with a height of 5.5ins.  It has two handles on the rim, one of which remains, but no ornamentation’.

Some material is still preserved in the Museum of Antiquities at Newcastle University.

Source:

1. Dixon 1892, 27-9
2. Hope-Dodds 1940

Site2: NZ 02709853

A massive cairn of stones stands on the middle peak (1401 feet above sea level) of Simonside Beacon. This cairn was struck by lightning and much shattered

On the highest part of this crag is a cairn 11m in diameter, bounded by natural outcrop to the north. The maximum original height appears to be 1.2m, the upper part having been rebuilt.  On the west side the stones are somewhat scattered, presumably the result of being struck by lightning. The cairn is one of two situated on the highest point of Simonside. Both are substantial for curricks, but it is significant that a number of other cairns in the vicinity at lower levels, excavated at the latter end of the last century, all yielded evidence of burials, whilst the only one comparable in size and situation to the two in question proved negative.

Source:1 Brewis and Dixon 1915-16, 45

Site 3: NZ 02409871

The western summit of Simonside (1408 feet above sea level) is surmounted by a large cairn. Two small modern cairns have been built from some of its stones. The cairn appears to be of some age but its purpose is not clear. The cairn is one of two situated on the highest point of Simonside. Both are substantial curricks, but it is significant that a number of other cairns at lower levels in the vicinity yielded evidence of burials, whilst the only one comparable in size and situation to the two in question proved negative.  

The cairn survives to a height in excess of 1m and has a diameter of 18m. The mound is constructed of large boulders; many of those on the surface have been re-arranged by walkers to form a modern marker cairn.

Site 4: NZ 03728 98523

A large circular cairn (Dove Crag Cairn) situated close to the northern edge of the eastern most summit of the Simonside range. It has been modified by walkers who have constructed a modern marker cairn to the north of centre. A small oval enclosure, probably a hut, measuring 3.7m x 4m with an entrance in the eastern corner, has also been built into the north-west side of the cairn. The structure is of drystone construction and survives up to six courses. The base of the cairn, however, appears undisturbed. There is no evidence of excavation though this may have been obscured by subsequent disturbance. Diameter c.  25m   Height  >1-2m.

Site 5: NZ 04549857

Spy Law Beacon. The cairn consists of a mass of stones covering 10m diameter and with a maximum height of 1.5m. It has been much mutilated and has been rebuilt in places. The situation, on the hill summit, gives an excellent all-round view except to the west.