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Welcome

Gefrin.com presents a look at some of the history and archaeology to be found in north Northumberland.

Hillforts

An introduction to some of the hillforts to be found in north Northumberland with maps and diagrams to help you make the most of a visit.

  • Yeavering Bell
  • Humbleton Hill
  • Great Hetha
  • West Hill
  • Lordenshaws
  • Castle Hills & Camp Knowe

Pages

  • Clennell Street
  • The 2008 Duddo Dig
  • Kidlandlee Dean
  • The Bamburgh Project
  • A Look at Roundhouses
  • About Henges
  • The Howick Hut

And Finally...

A few pages which I hope will clear up a couple of myths and possibly start another...

  • The Old Palace
  • Sheep Circles
  • NOT the Gefrin Monument

 

Even by mediaeval times Ad Gefrin had become a place of legend.

It's whereabouts was hinted at by Bede but the true location of the 7th Century Palace of King Edwin of Northumbria had been a mystery for centuries. 

Then, in 1949, an aerial survey revealed an impressive series of crop marks in an otherwise innocent field to the north of Yeavering Bell.This is the story behind the cropmarks. The early excavations on the site. The Finds. The discoveries and theories. Here too you can find out the very latest information on the site as exciting new details are unearthed using state of the art technology as well as a look at the Yeavering Bell hillfort.


Ad Gefrin     Yeavering Bell

The Northumbrian village of Duddo lies close to one of the most impressive and evocative stone circles in the county.

No major excavation of a stone circle had taken place in the north of England until Roger Miket, Dr. Ben Edwards and a team of archaeologists began work in the monument during August 2008.

However August 2008 was one one of the wettest months since records began. Mornings at the dig were spent emptying the trenches of inches of water.

In spite of this the dig produced some fascinating archaeology and some unexpected finds. The link below will tell you more about the Duddo Stones and the 2008 excavations.

Duddo Dig 2008

The Milfield Plain is notable for the discovery of a series of henges. Can recent evaluation of these elusive features shed new light on their origins.

So what is a henge? Do we know what they were for? How old are they?

About Henges

Amateur archaeologists discovered Mesolithic flint artefacts eroding from a cliff-edge at Howick, Northumberland.

Detailed investigation uncovered the earliest dated evidence for human settlement in Northumberland.


Howick









 




Clennell Street ia a truly ancient trackway through the Cheviot hills and ultimately connects Morpeth and Kelso.

It is reward enough to walk from the Northumbrian village of Alwinton and head north along Clennell Street to simply enjoy the wide open spaces and vistas of the high hills. However you will be walking through some of the richest evidence of the past in the area.

The Clennell Street pages
take a brief look at the archaeology you will encounter in the first three kilometers of your walk. They also provide an excuse for frequent stops as you ascend!

Archaeological investigations are under way at Kidlandlee Dean where a team led by Dr. Rachel Pope are excavating a number of features including a roundhouse.

Clennell Street      Kidlandlee Dean Excavations      A Look at Roundhouses

There are a number of galleries and panorama pages on the site. These are usually to be found within relevant sections. To allow you to get to these directly please use the menu boxes on the right of this page.

The Northumberland Gallery is a selection of photographs I have taken in the region and are not guaraneed to have an archaeological connection.

If you have any images you think would contribute to the archaeology galleries on the site I would be happy to include them and fully credit you as the photographer.

 

 

 

 


© Brian Cosgrove