Late prehistoric enclosed settlement with an outlying bank and ditch on Counter Hill, 220m north east of Moorcock Hall

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 survives well and is one of two such enclosed settlements on the slopes of Counter Hill. The survival of the outlying earthwork is unsual and is an important feature of the site. Together, they contribute to the understanding of late prehistoric settlement and land use in northern England.

Details

The monument, which is in two areas of protection, includes a late prehistoric enclosed settlement, partly surrounded by an outlying bank and ditch. It is situated on the south slope of Counter Hill, 220m north east of Moorcock Hall. The enclosure occupies a small knoll, and is bounded by a ditch with an outer bank. The bank is approximately 9m wide and up to 0.6m high. The ditch is about 5m wide and 0.4m deep. There are no discernable internal features. The outlying earthwork consists of a bank with an outer ditch, partly encircling the enclosure on its south and west sides. The condition of the outlying earthwork varies considerably. The bank survives to a maximum height of approximately 0.3m and a maximum width of about 8m. The ditch survives to a maximum width of approximately 4m and to a maximum height of about 0.6m. The drystone walls which cross the enclosure and the bank and ditch are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

31499

Legacy System:

RSM

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