A human lower jaw and fragments of long bones and pelvis were found 1965 and noted in the Sunderland Museum records. Miket suggested they may have been of prehistoric origin.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
"A human lower jaw and fragments of long bones and pelvis found 1965 by A. Chalk of 17 Fortrose Avenue and D. Holland". Though apparently noted in the Sunderland Museum records, there is no further information. Miket suggested they may have been prehistoric.
Site Name
Sunderland, skeletal remains
Site Type: Specific
Human Remains
HER Number
11
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 11 >> Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, 1976, human remains
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 63, no. 20
YEAR1
1991
YEAR2
1995
English, British
ADDITINF
N
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
03
DAY2
04
District
Sunderland
Easting
437900
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MATERIAL
Bone
MONTH1
4
MONTH2
7
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 NE 54
Northing
557700
General Period
UNCERTAIN
Specific Period
Uncertain
Place
Deptford
Description
Fragments of a male human skull were found during deep excavations for building purposes at Laing's (or Doxford's) Shipyard, Deptford, in 1974. Donated to Sunderland Museum.
SITEASS
Miket considered, probably with reason, that this was likely to be a prehistoric find.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
Fragments of human skull (male) were found during deep excavation for building purposes at Laing's (or Doxford's) Shipyard, Deptford, in 1974. Donated to Sunderland Museum.
Site Name
Doxford's Shipyard, human remains
Site Type: Specific
Human Remains
HER Number
10
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 10 >> Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, 1976, human remains
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 63, no. 19
SURVIVAL
1-19%
YEAR1
1991
YEAR2
1995
English, British
ADDITINF
N
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
7, 8, 157
DAY1
26
DAY2
04
District
Sunderland
Easting
438000
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
7
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
555200
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Neolithic -4,000 to -2,200
Place
Sunderland
Description
One arrowhead, lacking its tang, is reported to have been found in 1950, and three c. 1953.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
Miket reports that one arrowhead, lacking its tang, was found in 1950, and three were found c. 1953. Young received this information as "3 leaf-shaped arrowheads...recovered from the area of Humbledon Hill in the 1950s", but added, cryptically: "this material was not traced at Sunderland Museum".
Site Name
Humbledon Hill, flint arrowheads
Site Type: Specific
Barbed and Tanged Arrowhead
HER Number
9
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 9 >> R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 61, no. 4.2, a-b
R. Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, Vol. 161, p. 213, F 93-95
Historic Geoquest 2000, Environment Record for Tyne & Wear, Archaeological Assessment for ... Humbledon Hill, Sunderland
YEAR1
1991
YEAR2
1995
English, British
ADDITINF
N
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
157, 8
DAY1
26
DAY2
23
District
Sunderland
Easting
438020
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 NE 37
Northing
555240
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Place
Sunderland
Description
In 1873, during the construction of the Humbledon Hill High Reservoir on the summit of the hill, a barrow was removed and several burials discovered, three in cremation urns (two inverted). The urns, two of which survive, are described as of 'food vessel' type and decorated with incised chevrons, herringbone and zig-zag patterns. A geophysical survey of the surrounding hill in 2001 revealed the probable remains of ditches and/or a palisade trench enclosing the hilltop summit with a possible entrance to the west. Other gullies and ditches are also present. These features are typical of prehistoric enclosures or fortifications but have not been investigated by excavation.
Site Type: Broad
Burial
SITEDESC
In 1873, during the construction of the Humbledon Hill High Reservoir on the summit of the hill, a barrow was removed and three urns were discovered. 1) A food vessel urn was found about 4 ft below the surface, about half full of small bones. 2) A second urn was found about 3 ft below the surface, 9 ft east of no. 1, with some bones in it, "but it fell all to pieces before it was got out". 3) A food vessel urn, crushed before it was recovered. A small heap of bones, without a cover, was also found, 3 ft below the surface. Nos. 1 and 3 are recorded as having been found inverted, and the implication is that no. 3 also held a cremation.
Site Name
Humbledon Hill, cremation
Site Type: Specific
Cremation Burial
HER Number
7
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 7 >> G.B. Gibbs, 1912, Early History of the Water Supplies of Sunderland and South Shields, Antiquities of Sunderland, Vol. XII (for 1911), p. 3
Transactions Natural History Society Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle, 1877, Note on Cinerary Vases found at Humbledon Hill, near Sunderland, Vol. V (for 1873-6), p. 97
W. Greenwell, 1877, British Barrows, pp. 440-1
Transactions Architectectural & Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, 1890, A Prae-Historic Cist Burial at Sacriston, Vol. III (for 1880-89), p. 184
Archaeologia Aeliana, C.T. Trechmann, 1914, Prehistoric Burials in the County of Durham, 3, XI, pp. 120-1, 137
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, pp. 60-61, no. 4.1
R. Young, 1980, Transactions Architectectural & Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland An Inventory of Barrows in Co. Durham, New series, Vol. 5, p. 12
W. Page, ed. 1905, Early Man, Victoria County History, Durham, Vol. I, p. 208
Geoquest 2000, An Archaeological Assessment for ... Humbledon Hill, Sunderland
YEAR1
1991
YEAR2
1995
English, British
ADDITINF
N
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Clare Henderson
DAY1
24
DAY2
24
District
Sunderland
Easting
438640
Grid ref figure
10
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
3
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 NE 9
Northing
559926
General Period
UNCERTAIN
Specific Period
Uncertain
Place
Fulwell
Description
A discovery made during quarrying work at Fulwell sometime in the century before Surtees recorded it in 1820. Described as "a kind of square pit ...within which were deposited, a quantity of stags' horns cut into lengths of three or four inches, and resting amongst a deep-coloured substance most resembling animal matter".
SITEASS
The earliest reference seems to be Surtees, 1820, but note that Sykes slots it in under 1758 - has he been using local papers?
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
"A discovery...was made several years ago. In working the lime-stone quarries, [on Fulwell hills], 'a kind of square pit was opened,...within which were deposited, a quantity of stags' horns cut into lengths of three or four inches, and resting amongst a deep-coloured substance most resembling animal matter".
Site Name
Fulwell Quarries, stags' horns
Site Type: Specific
Mammal Remains
HER Number
6
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 6 >> R. Surtees, 1820, History of...Durham, Vol. II, p. 13
E. Mackenzie and M. Ross, 1834, An Historical...View of Durham, Vol.I, p. 326
W. Fordyce, 1857, History of...Durham, Vol. II, p. 539
J. Sykes, 1866, Local Records, Vol. I, p. 221
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 59, no. 2.3
YEAR1
1991
YEAR2
2021
English, British
ADDITINF
N
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
CONDITION
Good
DAY1
24
DAY2
19
District
Sunderland
Easting
439000
Grid ref figure
4
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
10
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 NE 47
Northing
556000
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Neolithic -4,000 to -2,200
Place
Sunderland
Description
Toffee-coloured flint scraper found in 1973 and donated to Sunderland Museum.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
Toffee-coloured flint scraper found in Sunderland in 1973, and donated to Sunderland Museum by F. Hare, 31 Hadleigh Road, Hylton Lane, Sunderland.
Site Name
Sunderland, flint scraper
Site Type: Specific
Scraper
HER Number
5
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 5 >> Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, 1976, Scraper
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 64, no. 24
SURVIVAL
100%
YEAR1
1991
YEAR2
1995
English, British
ADDITINF
N
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
CONDITION
Good
DAY1
24
DAY2
19
District
Sunderland
Easting
439100
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MATERIAL
Tuff
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
10
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 NE 53
Northing
559700
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Neolithic -4,000 to -2,200
Place
Fulwell
Description
Small Neolithic axe, in Langdale volcanic tuff; length 82 mm, width 57 mm, thickness 24 mm. Found in 1972 "near the path that runs from Mill Garages to Fulwell Quarries". Donated to Sunderland Museum.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
Small Neolithic axe, in Langdale volcanic tuff; length 82 mm, width 57 mm, thickness 24 mm. Found in 1972 "near the path that runs from Mill Garages to Fulwell Quarries". Donated to Sunderland Museum.
Site Name
Fulwell Quarries, polished axe
Site Type: Specific
Axehead
HER Number
4
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 4 >> Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, 1976, Neolithic axe
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 64, and p. 66 fig. 20, no. 29
SURVIVAL
80-90%
YEAR1
1991
YEAR2
1995
English, British
ADDITINF
N
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
2, 3, 371
DAY1
22
DAY2
19
District
Sunderland
Easting
439870
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
10
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 NE 17
Northing
559530
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Place
Fulwell
Description
A sand-filled cavity, the top ornamented by rows of limpet shells, beneath a stone slab 7-8 feet long x 2.5 feet wide and circa 6 inches thick. Some deeply inscribed 'letters' about 2 inches long were reported on the upper stone surface. The cavity contained a skeleton and two earthenware jars. The smaller pot was decorated with a criss-cross pattern and the larger one with embossed knobs. The recoginition of the lettering on the grave cover seems suspect; alternatively, the burial may not be prehistoric, although the pottery sounds prehistoric and the limpet shells have been a feature of other burials of the period. Recorded during the construction of Atkinson road, Fulwell in 1927
SITEASS
While Miket includes this, he concludes by saying, "The recoginition of the lettering may be suspect, but on the other hand the burial may be outside the prehistoric period". Nevertheless the pottery sounds prehistoric, and the limpet shells have been a feature of other burials thought to be this period.
Site Type: Broad
Cist
SITEDESC
The O.S. quotes a letter from G.B. Gibbs to O.G.S. Crawford, 19.viii.27. "An inhumation burial unearthed in ballast when Atkinson Road, Fulwell, was being constructed in 1927 was described to G. Bennet Gibbs by R.D. Paxton. At a depth of 3 ft a large slab, 7-8 ft long x 2.5 ft wide and circa 6" thick with one edge slightly rounded was discovered. Paxton could not remember definitely if the slab had been supported by side and end stones (cist) but he thought it must have been. Beneath the slab was a sand-filled cavity; the top of which was ornamented by regular rows of limpet shells. A skeleton was found within the cavity and two earthenware jars...During the removal of the stone slab, some inscribed letters about 2" long and deeply cut were seen on the top surface by Paxton but before these could be interpreted, the slab was broken up and used for the foundations of a concrete road at Laburnum Road railway crossing (NZ 3954 5918)".
Site Name
Atkinson Road, cist
Site Type: Specific
Cist
HER Number
1
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 1 >> Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, 1956, burial (possibly Bronze Age)
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 59, no. 1