FAIRY BROW

FAIRY BROW - Partial excavation of a bronze age barrow at Little Bollington.

by Pat Faulkner
© P. Faulkner 2005

Fairy Brow is located on the first terrace above the flood-plain of the River Bollin at Little Bollington, Cheshire.

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In August 1983, S.T.A.G was informed that a hole had been dug on Fairy Brow, by a treasure-hunter. Two months later the Group obtained permission to conduct an exploratory excavation on the site in order to preempt further damage. The site was surveyed at 1m centres. The results showed that a distinct mound occupied the southern end of the Brow, and could only be seen from the flood plain. A general distinction could be drawn between the deposits in the northern and in the southern halves of the site. The northern half was characterised by compacted river gravels with pockets of clay and sand, while the southern half consisted of podsolised sand. The stratigraphic sequence is unclear with the northern part of the site probably of geological rather than archaeological significance.

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Several distinct levels were identified:

i     the modern turf level.

ii      a dark brown soil, incised by the plough and covering the entire site.

iii     an orange/brown sand, 250-5 00mm thick in the scraped mound and alluvial layer over the south part of the site.

Within level iii on the south area was a layer of mottled sand and charcoal, thought to be the remains of the old ground surface.

The burial pit was located 850mm below modern ground level.

A single riveted-tanged knife, dating to the latter part of the early Bronze Age, was recovered from the surface of the feature.

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The burial pit was seen to be an oval shaped outline of charcoal with clean sand at the top. The removal of 230mm of cremated bone and charcoal exposed an oblong feature, also of clean sand and measuring 190x 130mm. It has been suggested that this may represent the position of a marker post though this would mean that the post had been inserted through the burial itself The pit was 370mm deep and had been cut through natural sand.
After permission had been gained from the Home Office, the cremated remains and charcoal were removed and two samples sent for radio-carbon dating.

                     Charcoal:                                                              1485 + 35 bc

                     Carbonised layer at base of mound:                   1530+60bc

The two dates show there was very little time between the cutting of the timber and the cremation.

The funeral pyre contained a small number of fairly well preserved charred oak timbers, with a layer of cremated bone fragments and sand.

The cremated bones were those of a robust male.

	FAIRY BROW - Partial excavation of a bronze age barrow at Little Bollington. by Pat Faulkner © P. Faulkner 2005
	Fairy Brow is located on the first terrace above the flood-plain of the River Bollin at Little Bollington, Cheshire.
PROJECTS HOME
	In August 1983, S.T.A.G was informed that a hole had been dug on Fairy Brow, by a treasure-hunter. Two months later the Group obtained permission to conduct an exploratory excavation on the site in order to preempt further damage. The site was surveyed at 1m centres. The results showed that a distinct mound occupied the southern end of the Brow, and could only be seen from the flood plain. A general distinction could be drawn between the deposits in the northern and in the southern halves of the site. The northern half was characterised by compacted river gravels with pockets of clay and sand, while the southern half consisted of podsolised sand. The stratigraphic sequence is unclear with the northern part of the site probably of geological rather than archaeological significance.

PROJECTS HOME
	Several distinct levels were identified: i the modern turf level. ii a dark brown soil, incised by the plough and covering the entire site. iii an orange/brown sand, 250-5 00mm thick in the scraped mound and alluvial layer over the south part of the site. Within level iii on the south area was a layer of mottled sand and charcoal, thought to be the remains of the old ground surface.
	The burial pit was located 850mm below modern ground level.
	A single riveted-tanged knife, dating to the latter part of the early Bronze Age, was recovered from the surface of the feature.

PROJECTS HOME	The burial pit was seen to be an oval shaped outline of charcoal with clean sand at the top. The removal of 230mm of cremated bone and charcoal exposed an oblong feature, also of clean sand and measuring 190x 130mm. It has been suggested that this may represent the position of a marker post though this would mean that the post had been inserted through the burial itself The pit was 370mm deep and had been cut through natural sand. After permission had been gained from the Home Office, the cremated remains and charcoal were removed and two samples sent for radio-carbon dating. Charcoal: 1485 + 35 bc Carbonised layer at base of mound: 1530+60bc The two dates show there was very little time between the cutting of the timber and the cremation. The funeral pyre contained a small number of fairly well preserved charred oak timbers, with a layer of cremated bone fragments and sand. The cremated bones were those of a robust male.