21 September 2010
Ancient remains discovered in Yorkshire
A group of archaeology enthusiasts discovered a cup-and-ring stone in Steeton (West Yorkshire, England). According to a short report sent by Mr Paul Bennett, on the stone there are at least 19 cup-markings and a series of serpentine, curved lines running between and towards the cup-markings. Although some of the cups give an impression of being natural, others have the authentic-looking ring to them, with at least one of them possessing a near-complete ring encircling it.
Mr Bennett believes the carving has a similar feel in design, although graphically different, to that of the Wondjina Stone at Rivock Edge, on the other side of the Aire Valley a couple of miles east of the site - though this newly found carving is in a better state of preservation. The discoverers gave the newly discovered stone the imaginative title of the Dragon Stone.
The same group of people recently discovered more ancient remains on the North Yorkshire moors. When looking at a small, overgrown circle known as Dumpit Hill, one of the team of archaeolgy enthusiasts came across the lost stone circle of Dumpit Hill B, first reported by Arthur Raistrick in 1963. Thankfully much of the heathland had been burnt away, which enabled the group to uncover a near-complete ring of eight stones insted of the three originally reported by Mr Raistrick 47 years ago.
Nearby, Michala Douglas located a large prehistoric enclosure site. Structurally similar to the enclosure walling at Horse Close and Rough Haw, either side of Skipton, a few miles to the south, here there are about 100 yards of walling seeming to enclose the eastern side of the small hilltop, but running into the heather on its southern edge and the moorland track on its northern side, where it disappears again. At the northwestern point in the enclosure walling, a very distinct long stone about 4 feet high leans at an angle in the ling.
The group contacted Robert White of North Yorkshire's Historic Environment Office asking whether the site had previously been recorded, but he reported they have no record of sites at this spot. Mr White said he's planning a visit to the place soon to survey the site.
Edited from The Northern Antiquarian (13 and 18 August 2010, 4 september 2010) and from messages sent by Paul Bennett
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