Reasons for Designation
The Pennine uplands of northern England contain a wide variety of prehistoric
remains, including cairns, enclosures, carved rocks, settlements and field
systems. These are evidence of the widespread exploitation of these uplands
throughout later prehistory. During the last millennium BC a variety of
different types of enclosed settlements developed. These include hillforts,
which have substantial earthworks and are usually located on hilltops. Other
types of enclosed settlement of this period are less obviously defensive, as
they have less substantial earthworks and are usually in less prominent
positions. In the Pennines a number of late prehistoric enclosed settlements
survive as upstanding monuments. Where upstanding earthworks survive, the
settlements are between 0.4ha and 10ha in area, and are usually located on
ridges or hillside terraces. The enclosing earthworks are usually slight, most
consisting of a ditch with an internal bank, or with an internal and external
bank, but examples with an internal ditch and with no ditch are known. They
are sub-circular, sub-rectangular, or oval in shape. Few of these enclosed
settlements have been subject to systematic excavation, but they are thought
to date from between the Late Bronze Age to the Romano-British period (c.1000
BC-AD 400). Examples which have been excavated have presented evidence of
settlement. Some appear to have developed from earlier palisaded enclosures.
Unexcavated examples occasionally have levelled areas which may have contained
buildings, but a proportion may have functioned primarily as stock enclosures.
Enclosed settlements are a distinctive feature of the late prehistory of the
Pennine uplands, and are important in illustrating the variety of enclosed
settlement types which developed in many areas of Britain at this time.
Examples where a substantial proportion of the enclosed settlement survives
are considered to be nationally important.
Details
The monument includes a late prehistoric enclosed settlement and the surviving
part of another. They are situated in Potter Newton at the north end of Gipton
Wood.
The main, southern enclosure has a substantial ditch with a well-defined outer
bank. The ditch is about 5m wide and 0.6m deep. The bank is 5m-6m wide and is
up to 0.5m high.
Immediately to the north is part of a second enclosure which has been partly
destroyed by a modern road and housing estate. This enclosure is bounded by a
bank approximately 4m wide and 0.3m high. An additional ditch 4m wide with an
outer bank about 4m wide and 0.2m-0.3m high is present on the west side of the
enclosure.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31496
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
