Every year the historic environment team organises an Archaeology Day which is open to everyone interested the archaeology and history of the National Park. We have some of the most iconic and best preserved historic landscapes in the country which attracts many researchers and local groups.
The venue rotates each year to different locations in and around the National Park and is now held in the Autumn, providing an opportunity for individuals and societies to disseminate the results of their recent work and to find out what is happening. The buildings, monuments, sites and landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales National Park are its ‘heritage assets’. They reflect the history of the area and help make it such a special place.
The Dales Archaeology Day 2023 was held in Middleham on Saturday the 11th of November at the Key Centre according to the following programme:
Dales Archaeology Day 2023 Programme
10.00: Introduction – Sarah Whiteley, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA, Senior Historic Environment Officer)
10.10: Smardale lime kilns restoration part 1: the journey – Sarah Whiteley (YDNPA, Senior Historic Environment Officer)
10.20: Smardale lime kilns part 2: restoring a monument at risk – David Johnson (Independent Landscape Archaeologist, contractor for watching brief)
11.00: Refreshments break (20 mins)
11.20: A ‘Druid’s Temple’ near Ingleborough? The Sleights Pasture prehistoric monument complex – Yvonne Luke (Ingleborough Archaeology Group)
12.00: Haunted Ground: New geochemical approaches for detecting the presence of past human activities – Roger Doonan (Archaeological Research Services, Head of Innovation)
12.40: Lunch break (1hr 30 mins)
14.10: Overground and Underground: the archaeological caves and landscapes of Ingleborough Commons – Rick Peterson (University of Central Lancashire, Reader in Archaeology)
14.50: The Descent: A re-analysis of the Cave Ha 3 burials using GIS as tool for taphonomic analysis – Keziah Warburton (University of Central Lancashire, PhD Student)
15.30: Discussion
16.00: Close
In addition to the variety of talks there were the usual displays and stalls showcasing activities by local societies.
If you want to know more about the Dales Archaeology Day events or are interested in bringing a display or giving a talk in future, please contact us at DalesArchaeologyDay@yorkshiredales.org.uk
