Late prehistoric enclosed settlement known as Round Dykes Camp on Addingham Low Moor

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.

The late prehistoric enclosed settlement known as Round Dykes Camp survives well. It is one of two such enclosed settlements on the slopes of Counter Hill. It contributes to the understanding of late prehistoric settlement and land use in northern England.

Details

The monument includes an oval late prehistoric enclosed settlement known as Round Dykes Camp. It is situated on Addingham Low Moor, 400m south of Hart House. The enclosure measures about 99m by 86m overall, and is bounded by a ditch with an inner and an outer bank. The outer bank is approximately 7m wide and up to 0.8m high. The ditch is about 5m wide and up to 0.8m deep. The inner bank is about 5m wide and 0.4m high. There is a break in the banks and ditch on the east edge which may be an original entrance. A spring has caused the inner bank to subside on the south east side. Internal features include an earth mound at the south east end of the enclosure. On the north east side, a break of slope bounds two level areas. These are larger than is usual for hut platforms, but may have contained buildings. The fence where it crosses the monument is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

31498

Legacy System:

RSM

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