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 150m north of Shaygate Farm survives
well despite some disturbance. The greater part of the banks and ditch
survive, and the interior of the enclosure is relatively undamaged. It will
contribute to the understanding of late prehistoric settlement and land use in
northern England.
Details
The monument includes a subcircular late prehistoric enclosed settlement, 150m
north of Shaygate Farm.
The enclosure is about 75m in diameter and is bounded by a ditch with inner
and outer banks. The ditch is approximately 4m wide and 0.2m deep. The inner
bank is up to 5m wide and survives to a height of 0.2m. The outer bank is up
to 4m wide and survives to a height of 0.3m. The interior of the enclosure is
slightly uneven, and has a level area near its east edge which may be the site
of a hut circle.
The electricity pylon and the horse jumps are excluded from the scheduling,
although the ground beneath them 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.
