DB Specific Record

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***SWAAG_ID***	879
Date Entered	22/05/2015
Updated on	22/05/2015
Recorded by	Tim Laurie
Category	Unknown
Record Type	Archaeology
Site Access	Public Access Land
Record Date	22/05/2015
Location	Carperby Moor. Swinehaw Hill.
Civil Parish	Carperby Cum Thoresby
Brit. National Grid	SD 97774 91699
Altitude	466m
Geology	The Main Limestone at outcrop. Calcareous grassland with heather on areas of residual blanket peat.
Record Name	Carperby Moor, Swinehaw Hill.Three sub-rectangular structures provisionally interpreted as shielings.
Record Description	This record will describe three small sub-rectangular stone banked structures averaging 9m*4m but probably with buried stone banks and therefor larger, which, despite the absence of door entrances, are provisionally in the first instance interpreted as small shieling huts. At least one (Structure No 2) and possibly two (No 3) of these 'shielings' may have been adapted from an existing prehistoric ring cairn. These 'shielings' are located on an area of fine calcareous grassland which would provide excellent summer grazing. In support of the suggestion that these structures are temporary shelters to seasonal pastoralist shepherds (ie transhumant shepherds), the area shows sign of slight improvement or clearance of the pasture in the form of numbers of small grouped rocks, see photo image No below. A more complete survey of this interesting area may provide further insight into the activities represented by these structures. A fine Barbed and Tanged Arrowpoint was found nearby (See Laurie, T.C. 2003 'Researching the Prehistory Of Wensleydale, Swaledale and Teesdale' in: Yorkshire Arch. Soc. Occasional Paper No 3. pp223-253, Figure 73 No 4.
Dimensions	From SD97774 91699 to SD97860 91659
Additional Notes	Whereas the provisional interpretation detailed above of these structures is of shielings, it can be seen from the photos that the structures are very deeply embedded in soil and vegetation and highly consolidated. This does imply great age and an alternative interpretation of these structures would be as prehistoric structured cairns or ring cairns. The grouped rocks in the area of the rectangular structures may prove to have been arranged to form a circular or sub-circular enclosure. Several of these may be the remnant of larger rocks broken up for dry stone walling. This site was recognised during a reconnaissance for the 2015 Swaledale Festival Walk on Carperby Moor.
Image 1 ID	6235 Click image to enlarge
Image 1 Description	Structure No 1 at SD97774 91699
Image 2 ID	6234 Click image to enlarge
Image 2 Description	Structure No 1 at SD97774 91699
Image 3 ID	6233 Click image to enlarge
Image 3 Description	Structure No 1 at SD97774 91699
Image 4 ID	6235 Click image to enlarge
Image 4 Description	Structure No 1 at SD97774 91699
Image 5 ID	6236 Click image to enlarge
Image 5 Description	Structure No 2 at SD97805 91751
Image 6 ID	6237 Click image to enlarge
Image 6 Description	Structure No 2 at SD97805 91751
Image 7 ID	6238 Click image to enlarge
Image 7 Description	Structure No 2 at SD97805 91751
Image 8 ID	6240 Click image to enlarge
Image 8 Description	Structure and cairn at SD97860 91659
Image 9 ID	6239 Click image to enlarge
Image 9 Description	Structure and cairn at SD97860 91659
Image 10 ID	6241 Click image to enlarge
Image 10 Description	Structure and cairn at SD97860 91659
Image 11 ID	6242 Click image to enlarge
Image 11 Description	Structure and cairn at SD97860 91659
Image 12 ID	6243 Click image to enlarge
Image 12 Description	Structure and cairn at SD97860 91659
Image 13 ID	6244 Click image to enlarge
Image 13 Description	Structure and cairn at SD97860 91659
Image 14 ID	6245 Click image to enlarge
Image 14 Description	Calcareous grassland with heather on relct blanket peat and numbers of small grouped rocks, possibly arranged.