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Viewing swaag.org website implies consent to set cookies on your computer. Full details Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group
Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation Number 1155775
SWAAG Honorary President:
Tim Laurie F,S,A,

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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
 SWAAG Site Name 
 Site Type 
 Site Name 
 Site Description 
 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
 Geographical area 
 Species 
 Scientific Name 
 Common / Notable Species 
 Tree and / or Stem Girth 
 Tree: Position / Form / Status 
 Tree Site ID 0
 Associated Site SWAAG ID 0
 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
 Image 11 Description Structure and cairn at SD97860 91659
 Image 12 ID 6243
 Image 12 Description Structure and cairn at SD97860 91659
 Image 13 ID 6244
 Image 13 Description Structure and cairn at SD97860 91659
 Image 14 ID 6245
 Image 14 Description Calcareous grassland with heather on relct blanket peat and numbers of small grouped rocks, possibly arranged.
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