A re-interpretation of the Levens Park ring cairn, Cumbria, based on the original excavation archives

Abstract

The site of a Beaker burial excavated in Levens Park, Cumbria was published by David Sturdy in 1972 as that of a farmstead or place for the living altered into a ring cairn or place for the dead. However, the recent discovery of the excavation archive and contemporary correspondence reveals a far more complex monument than previously understood. We draw attention to a series of important omissions from the excavation report, provide a detailed account of the excavated monument and seek to create a new narrative regarding its development and purpose. We argue that the monument was built as a series of changing structures and demonstrates the idea of monuments in progress and, thereby, the creation of communal memory and identity. The absence of a full report of this excavation means that its wider significance has remained unknown. It represents one of the earliest examples of what Sturdy called 'rescue archaeology' and demonstrates a complex sequence of structural components and burial that contributes to our understanding of the Early Bronze Age. The broader archaeological appraisal of Levens Park, which provided the context for this excavation, represents one of the earlier examples of landscape archaeological survey in Britain.

Yersinia pestis genomes reveal plague in Britain 4000 years ago

“…In addition, our analysis identified Yersinia pestis in one of four individuals recovered from the Levens Park ring cairn monument in Levens, Cumbria, United Kingdom 21 , 22 (see Methods for detailed archaeological context). One complete and three disturbed skeletons (Burials 1, 2, 3 and 4) were recovered from the monument and all have been directly dated to ca.…”

“…We detected Yersinia pestis in a tooth from Burial 2 (C10928), a 35–45-year-old female recovered in a crouched position from a plank-lined grave (possibly a wooden coffin) and accompanied by Beaker pottery sherds. The skeleton has been directly dated to 4065–3780 cal BP (95.4% confidence, GU-51281: 3602 ± 33 BP 22 ). Comparison of this radiocarbon date to the one obtained from Charterhouse C10098 suggests that we cannot reject the possibility that these two individuals were approximate contemporaries ( χ 2 -test, df = 1, T = 2.746 (5% 3.841)).…”

“…The latter scenario cannot be dismissed altogether, although it is improbable given the rate of perimortem trauma observed in the assemblage as a whole, which suggests most or all individuals were killed during a specific violent event. By contrast, Burial 2 from Levens Park ring cairn represents a much more normative funerary rite for the period 22 . Further high-resolution sampling will be needed to answer these questions and better understand the transmission dynamics and functional evolution of Yersinia pestis in Britain and beyond.…”

“…The Levens Park ring cairn, consisting of a low kerbed mound below which were further rings of boulders or wall-like structures, in Levens, Cumbria, UK, was excavated between 1968 and 1971 by David Sturdy 21 . Examination of existing archival material by members of Levens Local History Group has produced a recent reassessment of the excavation, resulting in a more detailed understanding of the monument and its purpose 22 . We provide a general narrative of the site here but see Clare et al 22 for details on associated uncertainties.…”

“…Examination of existing archival material by members of Levens Local History Group has produced a recent reassessment of the excavation, resulting in a more detailed understanding of the monument and its purpose 22 . We provide a general narrative of the site here but see Clare et al 22 for details on associated uncertainties. Four skeletons (Burials 1, 2, 3 and 4) were recovered from the monument and represent two separate phases of burial activity.…”