In 1923 a flint tanged and barbed arrowhead was found in the school garden at Marsden. Its dimensions are given by Miket as: length 34 mm, width 12 mm, thickness 4 mm.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
In 1923 a flint tanged and barbed arrowhead was found in the school garden at Marsden. Miket gives the above grid ref., and the dimensions - length 34 mm, width 12 mm, thickness 4 mm. This is probably, but not certainly, the same as Young's F102 - "Stray find. Barbed and tanged arrowhead in grey flint. Square tang, barbs and tip broken. Retouched around both edges only. Max surviving length 33 mm, breadth 18 mm. Max thickness 4 mm".
Site Name
Marsden, school garden, tanged and barbed arrowhead
Site Type: Specific
Barbed and Tanged Arrowhead
HER Number
852
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 852 >> R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 95 no. 12
R. Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, p. 216 F102, fig. IV.59 no. 1
YEAR1
1992
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Clare Henderson
CONDITION
Good
DAY1
09
DAY2
09
District
S Tyneside and Sunderland
Easting
440709
EASTING2
40
Grid ref figure
10
Map Sheet
NZ46SW
MATERIAL
Antler
MONTH1
11
MONTH2
10
Grid Reference
NZ
NGR2
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 46 SW 3
Northing
560622
NORTHING2
60
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Mesolithic -10,000 to -4,000
Place
Whitburn
Description
In 1852 this object was "picked up on the shore at Whitburn", and later donated to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle by the Rev. W. Featherstonhaugh. The precise findspot is unknown. Mellars suggests it was either washed up by the sea from submerged deposits just off the present shore, or eroded out of deposits in nearby cliffs; he favoured the former. The harpoon is of deer antler, "of biserial form, having three sharply pointed barbs along one edge, two similar barbs on the other edge, and bearing an elongated, oval perforation in the butt end; clear traces of a third barb can be seen close to the tip...". In total length it is 87.5 mm, with a max. width 14.6 mm, and max. thickness 4.6 mm. It is said to be "of Obanian affinities", and to date from 5,500 - 3,500 B.C.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
In 1852 this object was "picked up on the shore at Whitburn", and later donated to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle by the Rev. W. Featherston haugh. Precise findspot unknown; OS suggest the first parish and grid ref above, but this area is cliffs above rocks; the second, which is sand, seems equally possible. Mellars suggests it was either washed up by the sea from submerged deposits just off the present shore, or eroded out of deposits in nearby cliffs; he favoured the former. The harpoon is of deer antler, "of biserial form, having three sharply pointed barbs along one edge, two similar barbs on the other edge, and bearing an elongated, oval perforation in the butt end; clear traces of a third barb can be seen close to the tip...". Total length 87.5 mm, max width 14.6 mm; max thickness 4.6 mm. "Of Obanian affinities", 5,500 - 3,500 B.C. Great North Museum: Hancock 1968.14.A
Site Name
Whitburn, antler harpoon-head
Site Type: Specific
Harpoon
HER Number
851
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 851 >> W H D Longstaffe, 1858, Durham before the Conquest, Proceedings of the Archaeological Institute Newcastle, I, p. 50; H Preston, 1933, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 4, VI (for 193 -3 ); P A Mellars, 1970, An Antler Harpoon-Head of 'Obanian' Affinities from Whitburn,... Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, XLVIIII, 337-46; J Wymer, ed. 1977, Gazetteer of Mesolithic Sites in England and Wales, Council British Archaeology, Research Report, No. 20, p. 78; R Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, pp. 94 and 97, fig. 30 no. 2; R Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, p. 196 F 68, fig. IV.55; English Heritage Intertidal and Coastal Peat Database, Record ID 605; D J Smith, 1974, Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle upon Tyne - An Illustrated Introduction, 1
SURVIVAL
80-90%
YEAR1
1992
YEAR2
2020
English, British
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
COMP1
Rachel Grahame
Crossref
847, 848, 849
DAY1
16
District
S Tyneside
Easting
440729
Grid ref figure
10
LANDUSE
Thoroughfare
MONTH1
05
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
562649
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Place
Whitburn
Description
Flint knives and flakes, see HER 847.
SITEDESC
Flint knives and flakes, see HER 847.
Site Name
Wheatall Farm, Flint knives and flakes
Site Type: Specific
Knife
HER Number
850
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 847 >> South Shields Gazette, 1929, 24-Jan-29;
G B Gibbs, 1932, Neolithic man in County Durham, Antiquities of Sunderland, Vol. 19 (for 1929-32), pp. 22-3;
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Possible late Neolithic cist burial…;
R Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 94 no. 1;
R Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, p. 229 F 118;
Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map, 1959, sheet NZ4062 - A
YEAR1
2025
English, British
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
COMP1
Rachel Grahame
Crossref
847, 848, 850
DAY1
16
District
S Tyneside
Easting
440728
Grid ref figure
10
LANDUSE
Thoroughfare
MONTH1
05
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
562648
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Place
Whitburn
Description
Barbed and tanged arrowhead, see HER 847.
SITEDESC
Barbed and tanged arrowhead, see HER 847.
Site Name
Wheatall Farm, Barbed and tanged arrowhead
Site Type: Specific
Barbed and Tanged Arrowhead
HER Number
849
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 847 >> South Shields Gazette, 1929, 24-Jan-29;
G B Gibbs, 1932, Neolithic man in County Durham, Antiquities of Sunderland, Vol. 19 (for 1929-32), pp. 22-3;
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Possible late Neolithic cist burial…;
R Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 94 no. 1;
R Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, p. 229 F 118;
Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map, 1959, sheet NZ4062 - A
YEAR1
2025
English, British
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
COMP1
Rachel Grahame
Crossref
847, 849, 850
DAY1
16
District
S Tyneside
Easting
440727
Grid ref figure
10
LANDUSE
Thoroughfare
MONTH1
05
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
562647
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Place
Whitburn
Description
Inhumation in cist, see HER 847.
Site Type: Broad
Burial
SITEDESC
Inhumation in cist, see HER 847.
Site Name
Wheatall Farm, Inhumation in cist
Site Type: Specific
Inhumation
HER Number
848
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 847 >> South Shields Gazette, 1929, 24-Jan-29;
G B Gibbs, 1932, Neolithic man in County Durham, Antiquities of Sunderland, Vol. 19 (for 1929-32), pp. 22-3;
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Possible late Neolithic cist burial…;
R Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 94 no. 1;
R Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, p. 229 F 118;
Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map, 1959, sheet NZ4062 - A
YEAR1
2025
English, British
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
848, 849, 850
DAY1
02
DAY2
09
District
S Tyneside
Easting
440726
Grid ref figure
10
LANDUSE
Thoroughfare
Map Sheet
NZ46SW
MONTH1
11
MONTH2
01
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 46 SW 5
Northing
562646
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Place
Whitburn
Description
In 1929, during road widening near Wheatall Farm, a cist burial was found 60-90 cms deep in glacial gravel. The cist contained "a contracted inhumation aged c. 35 years, a barbed and tanged arrowhead, 5 other worked flints described as "knives and flakes", and limpets. The cist was subsequently reconstructed in South Shields Museum, and consists of 2 side stones and 2 end stones on a base stone. In spite of the arrowhead, presumably Bronze Age, both Gibbs and the Ordnance Survey suggest this was a late Neolithic burial. The present location of the lithic material is obscure.
Site Type: Broad
Cist
SITEDESC
In 1929, during road widening near Wheatall Farm, a cist burial was found 60- 90 cms deep in glacial gravel. The cist contained "a contracted inhumation aged c. 35 years", a barbed and tanged arrowhead, other worked flints and limpets. The cist was subsequently reconstructed in South Shields Museum, and is on display [2008] and consists of 2 side stones and 2 end stones on a base stone. In spite of the arrowhead both Gibbs and the OS suggest this was a late Neolithic burial. Tyne and Wear Museums have taken it to be early Bronze Age.
Site Name
Wheatall Farm, cist
Site Type: Specific
Cist
HER Number
847
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 847 >> South Shields Gazette, 1929, 24-Jan-29;
G B Gibbs, 1932, Neolithic man in County Durham, Antiquities of Sunderland, Vol. 19 (for 1929-32), pp. 22-3;
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Possible late Neolithic cist burial…;
R Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 94 no. 1;
R Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, p. 229 F 118;
Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map, 1959, sheet NZ4062 - A
YEAR1
1992
YEAR2
2009
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
30
DAY2
15
District
S Tyneside
Easting
440830
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ46SW
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
10
MONTH2
12
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 46 SW 1
Northing
563810
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Mesolithic -10,000 to -4,000
Place
Whitburn
Description
In 1935 the Couplands published a summary of the six sites on which they had found flints along the coast near Whitburn, five being on top of the cliffs. The Ordnance Survey in 1952, after consultation with Mrs Coupland, provided a basic list of the finds from each site, and in the case of Site F a location - Whitburn Colliery. It produced 35 flints "with seven pieces trimmed; one piece trimmed for small barb, and twenty four indeterminate pieces". Wymer and Young group the finds from the six sites together and add no further details. The flints' whereabouts are unknown. An unknown number of flints, found Oct. 1963, from Whitburn Colliery are in the Wilf Dodds Collection now in the Bowes Museum.
Site Type: Broad
Artefact Scatter
SITEDESC
In 1935 the Couplands published a summary of the six sites on which they had found flints along the coast near Whitburn, five being on top of the cliffs. The OS in 1952, after consultation with Mrs Coupland, provided a basic list of the finds from each site, and in the case of Site F a location, - Whitburn Colliery. It produced 35 flints "with seven pieces trimmed; one piece trimmed for small barb, and twenty four indeterminate pieces". Wymer and Young group the finds from the six sites together and add no further details. No one offers a clue to the flints' whereabouts. n unknown number of flints, found Oct. 1963, from Whitburn Colliery are in the Wilf Dodds Collection now in the Bowes Museum.
Site Name
Whitburn coast, Site F, flints
Site Type: Specific
Flint Scatter
HER Number
846
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 846 >> F. & G. Coupland, 1935, Further Tardenoisian discoveries on the north-east coast, Proceedings Prehistoric Society, I, 154
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Mesolthic flints
J. Wymer, ed. 1977, Gazetteer of Mesolithic Sites in England and Wales, Council British Archaeology, Research Report, No. 20, p. 78
R. Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, pp. 195-6, F 67
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 95 no. 10
Pers comm. J. Pickin, 1991, Mesolithic Flints from Monkwearmouth -Historic Environment Record
SURVIVAL
0
YEAR1
1992
YEAR2
1992
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
30
District
S Tyneside
Easting
440820
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ46SW
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 46 SW 1
Northing
564020
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Mesolithic -10,000 to -4,000
Place
Whitburn
Description
In 1935 the Couplands published a summary of the six sites on which they had found flints along the coast near Whitburn, five being on top of the cliffs. In 1952 the Ordnance Survey, after consultation with Mrs Coupland, provided a basic list of the finds from each site, and in the case of Site E a location - south of Souter lighthouse. It produced 60 flints, "including fifty indeterminate pieces and two points". Wymer and Young group the finds from the six sites together and add no further details. The flints' whereabouts are unknown.
Site Type: Broad
Artefact Scatter
SITEDESC
In 1935 the Couplands published a summary of the six sites on which they had found flints along the coast near Whitburn, five being on top of the cliffs. In 1952 the OS, after consultation with Mrs Coupland, provided a basic list of the finds from each site, and in the case of Site E a location, - south of Souter lighthouse. It produced 60 flints, "including fifty indeterminate pieces and two points". For no clear reason Miket gives a different grid ref; Wymer and Young group the finds from the six sites together and add no further details. No one offers a clue to the flints whereabouts.
Site Name
Whitburn coast, Site E, flints
Site Type: Specific
Flint Scatter
HER Number
845
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 845 >> F. & G. Coupland, 1935, Further Tardenoisian discoveries on the north-east coast, Proceedings Prehistoric Society, I, 154
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Mesolthic flints
J. Wymer, ed. 1977, Gazetteer of Mesolithic Sites in England and Wales, Council British Archaeology, Research Report, No. 20, p. 78
R. Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, pp. 195-6, F 67
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 95 no. 9
SURVIVAL
0
YEAR1
1992
English, British
AREA_STAT
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
30
District
S Tyneside
Easting
441480
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ46SW
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 46 SW 1
Northing
562740
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Mesolithic -10,000 to -4,000
Place
Whitburn
Description
In 1935 the Couplands published a summary of the six sites on which they had found flints along the coast near Whitburn, five being on top of the cliffs. In 1952 the Ordnance Survey, after consultation with Mrs Coupland, provided a basic list of the finds from each site, and in the case of Site D a location - Souter Point. It produced 5 flints, viz. 4 cores and 1 point. Wymer and Young group the finds from the six sites together and add no further details. The flints' whereabouts are unknown.
Site Type: Broad
Artefact Scatter
SITEDESC
In 1935 the Couplands published a summary of the six sites on which they had found flints along the coast near Whitburn, five being on top of the cliffs. In 1952 the OS, after consultation with Mrs Coupland, provided a basic list of the finds from each site, and in the case of Site D a location, - Souter Point. It produced 5 flints, viz. 4 cores and 1 point. For no clear reason Miket gives a slightly different grid ref; Wymer and Young group the finds from the six sites together and add no further details. No one offers a clue to the flints' whereabouts.
Site Name
Whitburn coast, Site D, flints
Site Type: Specific
Flint Scatter
HER Number
844
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 844 >> F. & G. Coupland, 1935, Further Tardenoisian discoveries on the north-east coast, Proceedings Prehistoric Society, I, 154
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Mesolithic flints
J. Wymer, ed. 1977, Gazetteer of Mesolithic Sites in England and Wales, Council British Archaeology, Research Report, No. 20, p. 78
R. Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, pp. 195-6, F 67
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 95 no. 8
SURVIVAL
0
YEAR1
1992
English, British
AREA_STAT
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
30
District
S Tyneside
Easting
440100
EASTING2
412
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ46SW
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
NGR2
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 46 SW 1
Northing
561400
NORTHING2
638
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Mesolithic -10,000 to -4,000
Place
Whitburn
Description
In 1935 the Couplands published a summary of the six sites on which they had found flints along the coast near Whitburn, five being on top of the cliffs. In 1952 the Ordnance Survey, after consultation with Mrs. Coupland, provided a basic list of the finds from each site, and in some cases a site location. Site C produced 50 flints, "mainly wasters, but including three pieces retrimmed to form arrowheads". They did not locate the site. Wymer and Young group the finds from the six sites together, but do not add any information. The flints' whereabouts are unknown.
Site Type: Broad
Artefact Scatter
SITEDESC
In 1935 the Couplands published a summary of the six sites on which they had found flints along the coast near Whitburn, five being on top of the cliffs. In 1952 the OS, after consultation with Mrs. Coupland, provided a basic list of the finds from each site, and in some cases a site location. Site C produced 50 flints, "mainly wasters, but including three pieces retrimmed to form arrowheads". They did not locate the site; Miket merely gives the grid refs at each end of the likely area, see above. He mysteriously adds a partially reworked but uncompleted arrowhead to the list, again without supporting evidence. Wymer and Young group the finds from the six sites together, but do not add any information. No one offers a clue to the flints' whereabouts.
Site Name
Whitburn coast, Site C, flints
Site Type: Specific
Flint Scatter
HER Number
843
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 843 >> F. & G. Coupland, 1935, Further Tardenoisian discoveries on the north-east coast, Proceedings Prehistoric Society, I, 154
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Mesolithic flints
J. Wymer, ed. 1977, Gazetteer of Mesolithic Sites in England and Wales, Council British Archaeology, Research Report, No. 20, p. 78
R. Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, pp. 195-6, F 67
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 95 no. 7