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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***** 154
 Date Entered 10/03/2011
 Updated on 10/03/2011
 Recorded by Tim Laurie
 Category Settlement
 Record Type Archaeology
 SWAAG Site Name 
 Site Type 
 Site Name 
 Site Description 
 Site Access Private
 Record Date 01/01/2005
 Location How Hill, Low Whita.
 Civil Parish Grinton
 Brit. National Grid SE 0025 9833
 Altitude 212m
 Geology Terminal moraine.
 Record Name Defended settlement on How Hill, Low Whita.
 Record Description See plan, Swaledale Ancient Land Boundaries project, Ninth Interim Report, 1992, Figure 3. Hill Top enclosure defined by a prominent encircling earthwork which is not really a ditch or a bank or an obvious palisade slot. On balance of probability this earthwork is likely to be an infilled palisade slot. If so, this site may be comparable to the Iron Age defended habitation site at Staple Howe (Brewster, T.C.M. 1963). Occupation of the Staple Howe palisade defended settlement was dated from 600BC to 400BC. This is also the period of the development of the earlier phase (The Reeth System) of the coaxial field systems on Calverside. The density of platform settlements on both sides of the Swale points to a very substantial population in Mid-Upper Swaledale at this time. The �palisade slot� is slighted by a later field bank and by subsequent cultivation. The dating of earthwork settlements on morphological grounds is fraught and several chronologies are possible, including roman or an early post roman occupation. Indeed it would be to be expected that this prominent site was first occupied during prehistory and reoccupied at different dates subsequently. The apparent absence of house platforms within the enclosure does not preclude the presence of timber houses. The visible rectangular building, see plan, points to reoccupation of the site at a later date The complex entrance earthworks on the western side points to a gateway here. The slanting trackway on the south side may lead to a secondary access over or through the palisade or later access unrelated to the palisade.
 Dimensions 
 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 The nature of the apparent defensive palisade, entrance and internal features can only be determined by excavation. On balance of probability, this site provides a close parallel with the palisade defended Iron Age settlement at Staple Howe, Knapton, near Malton, East Yorkshire. References: Brewster, T.C.M. 1963. The Excavation of Staple Howe. The East Yorkshire Archaeological Committee. Fleming, A. and Laurie T.C. Swaledale Ancient Land Boundaries Project, Ninth Interim Report, 1992, Figure 3. Fleming, A. 1998. Swaledale Valley of the Wild River. Figs 8.5 and 8.7
 Image 1 ID 421         Click image to enlarge
 Image 1 Description How Hill and enclosure from west
 Image 2 ID 422         Click image to enlarge
 Image 2 Description How Hill and Enclosure from Low Lane, Low Whita
 Image 3 ID 423         Click image to enlarge
 Image 3 Description How Hill and Enclosure from Low Lane, Low Whita
 Image 4 ID 424         Click image to enlarge
 Image 4 Description How Hill and Enclosure from Low Lane, Low Whita
 Image 5 ID 425         Click image to enlarge
 Image 5 Description How Hill and Enclosure. SWALB Survey Plan. Fleming and Laurie, 1992, Figure 3.
 Image 6 ID 426         Click image to enlarge
 Image 6 Description Staple How defended settlement. Reconstruction from Brewster, T.C.M 1963.
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