Ex-Scotland, Yeavering, Anglo-Saxon settlement - timber halls (Bede's Ad Gefrin) and Iron Age Hill fort (NGR 926 305) View of stone axe from Neolithic pit, excavations by Brian Hope-Taylor 1953-1962

Description Ex-Scotland, Yeavering, Anglo-Saxon settlement - timber halls (Bede's Ad Gefrin) and Iron Age Hill fort (NGR 926 305) View of stone axe from Neolithic pit, excavations by Brian Hope-Taylor 1953-1962

Date c. 1953 to 1962

Collection Papers of Brian Hope-Taylor, archaeologist, Cambridge, England

Catalogue Number E 33651 CN

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 770060

Scope and Content Stone axe from pit, Yeavering, Northumberland This stone axe was discovered in a prehistoric Neolithic 'ritual' pit and dates from a time long before the site was a royal palace. This axe was heavily used before it was deposited and may have been utilised as a hammer stone when it was no longer in use as an axe. This pit also contained cremated bone and sherds of 'grooved ware' pottery in distinctive layers. Stone axes appear to be important objects in Neolithic Britain. Axes were used for many purposes, such as tree felling, woodwork and possibly as weapons. Some were polished and probably had prestige value. It is common to find these axes buried either singly or in hoards. 'Grooved ware' pottery is also found in domestic and ritual contexts. Yeavering was the site of an Anglo-Saxon royal palace associated with the kings of Northumbria. Excavations undertaken by Brian Hope-Taylor between 1953 and 1962 revealed the ground plans of an extraordinary array of timber buildings, which had lain undisturbed since the site was abandoned. Excavation also revealed that the site had been in use since prehistoric times. The palace entered the historical record in the 7th century AD, when it was referred to as 'Ad Gefrin' by the monk Bede, in his 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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