Doons Law, Leetside

NT85SE 7 8684 5155.

(NT 8684 5155) Stone Coffins containing Human Remains found AD 1831 (NAT)

OS 6"map, Berwickshire, 2nd ed., (1908).

Several cists were found about 18 years ago (c 1839), 10"-12" beneath the ground, when ploughing along the S side of the plantation on Doons Law. They contained human remains and a small urn "of unglazed earthenware" (Name Book 1857) (This was first published as "Roman Remains found here", the date 1831 not appearing until 2nd edition). However, Craw mentions a cist and bones being found here in 1831; it is possible that he obtained the date from OS 6". He adds that another cist, 3 1/2' x 2' x 2', was found here in 1870. It contained a skeleton and a flint scraper or knife.

J H Craw 1923.

Cairn (supposed) Doons Law: An oval mound, possibly a cairn, measuring 83' NE-SW by 65' transversely. Planted with trees, it is enclosed by a stone wall built against it. Without excavation, its exact character is uncertain.

RCAHMS 1915, visited 1908.

On the summit of Doons Law (a natural knoll) a rectangular stone wall enclosed the possible remains of a barrow measuring up to 11m in diameter. The barrow has been badly mutilated and all that remains is a slight scarp 0.5m high on the E and S sides.

There is no further information on the cists.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS(JFC) 11 January 1955 and (IA) 20 December 1972.

NT 868 516. A cist burial on Doons Law was unearthed during ploughing in early January 1995. The cist was located approximately 3m to the N of a prominent mound and enclosed by a stone retaining wall on Doons Law. The capstone had been displaced by the plough and damaged, and was shown to overlie a cist of four upright sandstone slabs with the main axis aligned approximately E-W. The floor area of the cist measured 1.05m by 0.50m. Within the western end the vault of a skull was exposed and to the N of this stood an intact decorated beaker. The skeleton was that of an adult female. The beaker is of the North British/Northern Rhine type.

Excavation of the cist revealed four pieces of flint, fragments of a copper awl and charcoal. An area of 'body stain', rich in organic microfossils, around the area of the skeleton was exposed. Palynological work will be undertaken to detect the possible presence of deliberated floral tributes deposited at the time of burial.

A full report will be lodged with the National Monuments Record of Scotland. Post-excavation work is continuing.

Sponsors: Historic Scotland and Borders Regional Council

C Clarke (CFA) 1995

The excavation archive from Doons Law, Leetside has been catalogued and is available for consultation. The archive consists of manuscripts, negatives, slides and drawings. Manuscripts catalogued include the specialist reports from the urn and other small finds, plus the palynological investigations.

S Winlow (NMRS) 2002