63 



On Cist'Vaens and Sepulchral Urns in a Tumttltts or Barrow 

 near Lesbury, Northumberland, By George Tate. 



R^ad June 11, 1851. 



In November of last year, a Cist-vaen or stone chest, with an 

 urn, was discovered by Mr. Thomas Crisp, of Hawkhill ; and 

 as I was present, on the following day, when others were opened, 

 it may not be improper for me to describe them. 



These remains of antiquity were found on the summit of a 

 pretty high hill, about a quarter of a mile north from Lesbury, 

 and near to the Newcastle and Berwick Railway. This hill is 

 one of the elevations of the boulder formation, which modify, in 

 a peculiar manner, the physical features of the eastern part of 

 Northumberland ; it commands a view of Alnmouth Bay, and of 

 the Vale of the Aln with the Cheviots in the background. Five 

 Cist-vaens have been opened, all differing from each other in 

 size, and lying in different directions. They are, however, con- 

 structed in a similar manner : the clay subsoil has been hollowed 

 out to the depth of from 2 to 4 feet ; slabs of stone (generally 

 four) are placed on edge against each other so as to form a 

 quadrangular space ; these are covered over with a larger slab, 

 and, above this, large stones arc heaped up to the height of 

 more than 2 feet. The structure is simple and rude enough. 

 No cement has been used ; no ornament or inscription appears ; 

 and the only indications of the use of a tool are a very few marks 

 on the covering slabs, similar to those made by a mason's pick. 

 The slabs are irregularly bedded grey sandstones, such as are 

 found in situ on the neighbouring coast ; and the stones piled 

 up to form the artificial tumulus or barrow, are the boulders of 

 basalt, limestone, and sandstone, which occur abundantly in the 

 boulder-clay deposit of the neighbourhood. 



The ground-plan shows the relative position and sizes of the 

 Cist-vaens. The largest (No. 1.) lies in the direction of 

 W. 85° N. to E. 85° S. ; its length internally is 5 feet 7 inches ; 

 its breadth at the west end 2 feet 8^ inches, and at the east end 

 3 feet ; the height of the side slabs is 4 feet. The covering 

 slab was in-egularly shaped, but somewhat quadrangular, mea- 

 suring G feet 6 inches by 6 feet, and having a thickness of 4 

 inches ; it would weigh upwards of 18 cwt. When opened this 

 Cist was partly filled with water, and partly with a fine clayey 

 soil, which in the coui'se of centuries had been washed into it 

 through the open joints. An um was found in this Cist, placed 

 on a fiag on the north side (in the position marked) 18 inches 

 from the west end. 



