More information : (SD 935710) An Iron Age settlement situated on the
plateau south of Arncliffe by the top of Great Sear, consists
of small rectangular and one circular chamber contained within two
enclosures, and linked by a sunken road to a Celtic field
system. (1-3)
Blue Scar Iron Age Settlement - SD 932713.
The most interesting feature is the rectangular enclosure W of the
sunken road. The walls were built of limestone about 5ft wide at
the base and standing 2-3 ft. The huts are grouped round a
courtyard at the SE end and have a large stock-yard attached to
them. Of the 14 huts only 2 are circular (those in the NW corner)
and one on the E. side is approximately a circle. The remainder
are rectangular about 30 x 12 ft. (4)
This site, situated at the North end of Blue Scar, a massive
limestone pavement, consists of two main complexes ('A' and 'B'
on 1:2500 enlargement).
'A' - centred at SD 93327098 is made up of the following: (a)
SD 93217091 - set up against the base of a limestone scarp are two
conjoined stonewalled enclosures each about 18.0m square. At (b)
SD 93327101 and (c) SD 93307095 are what at first appear to be a
series of enclosures formed by walls built across two gulleys,
but are most probably the remains of small eroded fields. (The
eroded limestone splits up naturally into linear faults and it
is very difficult to determine walling on this which when
collapsed and robbed and much weathered appears almost natural). Set
into the base of the scarp at (d) SD 93317093 and (e) SD 93337092 are
two groups of conjoined hut-circles 4.0m to 6.0m in diameter made
of collapsed limestone walling. Centred at (f) SD 93397099 is a
large field or enclosure built near the edge of the plateau which
has probably utilised the edge of it as its E side. The walls of
this although similarly constructed, appear to be in a better
state of preservation than those to the W but run onto them
suggesting they may have been contemporary but rebuilt at a
later period, which is also suggested by the remains of a
sub-divided rectangular building 6.0m x 4.5m set against the wall
in the SE.
Within this field at (g) SD 93387099 is a mound of limestone
boulders about 3.7m in diameter 0.5m high formed by several
stones set on edge as well as horizontally. Not a clearance
heap and most probably a cairn typical of that at SD 96 SW 7.
Along the base of Blue Scar to the SE of this area are several more
similar enclosures (isolated and too poor to warrant survey)
most probably contemporary with this site.
'B' (Planned by Raistrick) centred at SD 93187103 is two
conjoined rectangular enclosures about 25.0m NE/SW x 44.0m and
25.0m NE/SW x 16.0m respectively. The latter southernmost one
having built against its whole outer side about 15 smaller
sub-rectangular enclosures, some of them to the E of the
entrance in the SE are sub-divided and may have been buildings
rather than enclosures. The whole complex is built of limestone
walling all about 1.1m wide, mainly collapsed but still standing
in some places up to 4 or 5 courses and 1.0m maximum height.
The alleged sunken road to its NE is really no more than a natural
turf covered gulley in the limestone plateau utilised as a
pathway.
It would seem that here are sites of at least two different periods
and not one as suggested. Although the walling is all very similar
in basic construction that of 'A' is much older with a different
form of enclosures and fields combined with four hut-circles all
suggestive of locally accepted Iron Age/Romano British type
settlement and field system. (This is possibly reinforced by the
probable cairn (g). 'B' is much better preserved and obviously
more recent and most probably represents a medieval or later sheep
fold complex which may also have utilised part of 'A'.
Dr Raistrick has revisited this area since his first report and
now agrees with this interpretation.
Surveyed at 1:2500 & 1:10 000. (5)
Scheduled (6)
(Centred SD 932 709) Settlement (NR) (7)
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