Walking through time : a window onto the prehistory of the Yorkshire Dales through multi-method, non-standard survey approaches
The large-scale field-systems, ubiquitous across upland and marginal parts of the Yorkshire Dales, are insecurely dated and poorly understood. Apart from some sporadic academic interest, the archaeology of this region has yet to receive the level of scholarly attention it deserves. The research presented here involved an intensive investigation of an area near Grassington, Upper Wharfedale, UK. Detailed field analysis revealed a section of one of these field-systems to be only a single element in a complex, multi-layered prehistoric landscape, which it is proposed may have roots as far back as the early Neolithic. Contextualisation of the survey area against palynological data, radiocarbon dates and comparative material moves the date of inception of the field-systems back to the middle Bronze Age, some 1000 years earlier than is currently assumed. The combination of empirical data and theoretical ideas has allowed a relative chronology to be determined in the survey area, together with the creation of a testable hypothesis surrounding the development of Upper Wharfedale and the wider Yorkshire Dales through prehistory. A sense of place and the veneration of natural places are key themes within this landscape
Saunders, Mary K.
Yorkshire Dales ; Prehistory ; Veneration ; Natural places ; Geophysical survey ; Walkover survey ; Field-system ; Clearance ; Land tenure ; Landscape archaeology
Walking through time : a window onto the prehistory of the Yorkshire Dales through multi-method, non-standard survey approaches. The large-scale field-systems, ubiquitous across upland and marginal parts of the Yorkshire Dales, are insecurely dated and poorly understood. Apart from some sporadic academic interest, the archaeology of this region has yet to receive the level of scholarly attention it deserves. The research presented here involved an intensive investigation of an area near Grassington, Upper Wharfedale, UK. Detailed field analysis revealed a section of one of these field-systems to be only a single element in a complex, multi-layered prehistoric landscape, which it is proposed may have roots as far back as the early Neolithic. Contextualisation of the survey area against palynological data, radiocarbon dates and comparative material moves the date of inception of the field-systems back to the middle Bronze Age, some 1000 years earlier than is currently assumed. The combination of empirical data and theoretical ideas has allowed a relative chronology to be determined in the survey area, together with the creation of a testable hypothesis surrounding the development of Upper Wharfedale and the wider Yorkshire Dales through prehistory. A sense of place and the veneration of natural places are key themes within this landscape
walking time window_onto prehistory yorkshire multi_method non_standard survey approach large_scale field systems ubiquitous across upland marginal part yorkshire date poorly_understood apart sporadic academic_interest archaeology_region yet_receive level scholarly_attention deserves present involved intensive investigation area near upper detailed field analysis_reveal section_one field systems single element complex multi_layered prehistoric_landscape propose may root far back early_neolithic contextualisation survey area palynological data radiocarbon_date comparative_material move date inception field systems back middle_bronze_age currently assume combination empirical_data theoretical idea allow relative_chronology determine survey area together creation testable hypothesis surround_development upper wider yorkshire prehistory sense_place veneration natural place key_theme within_landscape