Details

The monument includes the remains of a round cairn of prehistoric date
situated on the summit of a hill above the River Rede to the north. It is
composed of stone and earth and measures 16m in diameter and stands to a
maximum height of 1.4m. There is a hollow 5m in diameter and 0.85m deep at the
centre of the cairn, the result of partial excavation in the 19th century.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Round cairns are prehistoric funerary monuments dating to the Bronze Age
(c.2000-700 BC). They were constructed as stone mounds covering single or
multiple burials. These burials may be placed within the mound in stone-lined
compartments called cists. In some cases the cairn was surrounded by a ditch.
Often occupying prominent locations, cairns are a major visual element in the
modern landscape. They are a relatively common feature of the uplands and are
the stone equivalent of the earthen round barrows of the lowlands. Their
considerable variation in form and longevity as a monument type provide
important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisation
amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of
their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered
worthy of protection.

Bell Knowe round cairn survives very well and contains significant
archaeological deposits. It will contribute to our knowledge and understanding
of Bronze Age settlement and activity in the area.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Heritage Sites, , Landscape Surveys Ltd, , The Cragg Quarry, West Woodburn Northumberland, (1991)
Heritage Sites, , Landscape Services, , 'Archaeology in Northumberland 1991-92' in The Bell Knowe Tumulus, West Woodburn, (1992), 14-15
Other
NY 88 NE 7,

Source: Historic England