More information : [Centred at NY 29991880] Castle Crag [NAT] Camp [NR] (1)
The hilltop fort in the gill above Shoulthwaite is a rocky
promontory defended by a series of cresentic ditches. (2)
Scheduled as a hill fort. (3)
A fort, situated on a rocky eminence with precipitous natural
defences on its W and N sides. The roughly oval enclosed area is
contained on the E and S sides by a massive earth and stone rampart,
(up to 6.5m high externally and 2.2m internally) with an additional
outer rampart between two ditches on the SE side. (See enlarged
sketch). A simple entrance in the E side is probably original. There
are no traces of occupation within the defended area, which is
generally rocky and uneven.
Surveyed at 1:10 000 with enlargement at 1:2500. (4)
NY 300188. Promontory site defended by crescentic ditches at
Castle Crag, Shoulthwaite is listed under "Hill-forts" by Challis and
Harding. They do add, however, that the context of the site is
obscure and may be post-Roman. (5-6)
NY 300188. Shoulthwaite Gill hill fort, scheduled. (7)
[NY 29991880] Castle Crag [NAT] Fort [NR] (8)
Shoulthwaite Gill hillfort is located on a rocky knoll, on the summit of which are three rock-cut levelled areas measuring between 6m and 3m square which are interpreted as hut platforms. The knoll is defended on its southwest and east sides by a rock-cut ditch 7m wide and 1m deep. To the south of the knoll is a relatively flat sub-oval area containing two rectangular rock-cut levelled areas; also located within this sub-oval area is a rectangular shallow rock-cut depression. To the south and east the monument is defended by a massive earth and stone bank up to 6.5m high externally with an internal ditch. Beyond this bank further defensive earthworks include two closely spaced banks and ditches. A rare type of Iron Age hillfort, though some may be post-Roman in date. (9)
This site was located during field survey conducted by LUAU in 1996. A detailed survey of the hillfort was carried out by the LUAU in 1997. In 1999 three cored sections were recorded across the rock-cut ditch adjacent to the entrance to the site. Two radiocarbon dates were obtained for samples from the basal deposits of the ditch of cal AD 538 - 676 and cal AD 560 - 690 (95% confidence limit). This data indicates that the site was likely to have been in use in the late 6th/early 7th centuries and was either constructed at that time or was constructed at an earlier (?prehistoric) date and reused (10). |