Reasons for Designation
The early linear boundaries were constructed from the Bronze Age to the early
medieval period (c.2000 BC - AD 1066); closer dating within that period may be
provided by their visible relationships to other classes of monument. They
consist of stone walls, up to 3m wide and 1.1m high but usually much slighter,
and are formed of heaped rubble, often incorporating edge- or end-set slabs
called orthostats.
Linear boundaries served a variety of functions. These included separating
land regularly cultivated from that less intensively used, separating land
held by different social groups, or delineating areas set aside for
ceremonial, religious and funerary activities. Linear boundaries are often
associated with other forms of contemporary field system and contain examples
of an association, rarely encountered elsewhere. Hence certain linear
boundaries directly link several cairns, cists, standing stones and other
groups of prehistoric funerary monuments.
The stone bank on Askham Fell survives reasonably well. It is situated upon an
alignment of funerary monuments of Neolithic and Bronze Age date stretching
for over 1.5km along the natural communication route over a col between
Lowther and Ullswater valleys and is considered to be an original element of
this alignment. It thus indicates the importance of the area in prehistoric
times and will contribute to the study of the ceremonial function of funerary
monuments in this area.
Details
The monument is a prehistoric stone bank located on a gentle west facing
hillside on Askham Fell. It is aligned north west - south east and includes a
stone bank measuring 37m long by 2.2m wide and 0.25m high that has kerbing
stones along its edges. The bank is orientated directly towards a ring cairn
100m to the north west and approximately towards the Cop Stone 280m to the
south east.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22534
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
