Archaeology
For many people, the term 'North Pennines historic environment' conjures up images of abandoned lead mines and other post-medieval industrial landscapes. Such landscapes do indeed represent an essential element of the AONB's historic environment, but there is also much, much more.
The landscape holds clues to the activities of people over much of the past 10,000 years, extending back to the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) when the first bands of hunters wondered into the area after the last glacial phase of the Ice Age.
Over the years, relatively little survey and research has been done here in comparison to other areas of northern England, but sufficient has been done to demonstrate the potential for many exciting discoveries in future. Current projects include the Miner-Farmer Project on Alston Moor, led by Stewart Ainsworth of English Heritage, which is using modern technology to survey extensive previously unknown remains from prehistoric through until modern times. Another exciting current initiative is the Bollihope Common project in Weardale, led by Rob Young, where excavations each summer are adding to our understanding of life on a windswept hillside throughout prehistoric and medieval times.
The web pages listed below provide brief introductions to the different periods of North Pennines archaeology. 'Prehistory' is a term used by archaeologists to refer to time before the first written records (ie 'before history'). In the North Pennines this means the period prior to the Roman conquest, although written records of any kind remain extremely sparse through into medieval times. The prehistoric era is divided into Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age.
Altogether Archaeology project
The AONB Partnership is currently running a community project entitled Altogether Archaeology. This encourages and enables local people with an interest in the past to work with professional archaeologists at several different sites throughout the North Pennines. See the Altogether Archaeology page by clicking on the link above or at the bottom of the page for further details of how you can join in!
Further information
For more information about archaeology in the AONB contact Historic Environment Officer Paul Frodsham on 01388 528801 or email pfrodsham@northpenninesaonb.org.uk
In this section
The Stone Age (c10,000 - 2,000 BC)
The Stone Age is itself divided into the Old Stone Age (Palaeolithic), Middle Stone Age (Mesolithic) and New Stone Age (Neolithic).
Updated: 26/07/10
The Bronze Age (c2,000 - 800BC)
During the Bronze Age, from about 4,000 years ago, permanent farmsteads of round houses and small fields appeared in the North Pennine landscape.
Updated: 22/07/10
Iron Age (c800BC - AD80)
From about 800BC, iron technology was introduced into the region, marking the onset of the Iron Age.
Updated: 22/07/10
Roman (cAD80 - AD410)
The Roman occupation of Britain began in AD43, and although there was some opposition to Roman rule amongst the native tribes of what is now northern England, the North Pennines had been absorbed into the empire by the end of the first century.
Updated: 22/07/10
Anglo-Saxon and Viking (c 410 - 1066)
As with many areas of northern England, the post-Roman centuries represent something of a gap in the archaeological record. Some people may have continued living in small settlements of roundhouses, or on the sites of Roman forts.
Updated: 22/07/10
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Medieval (1066 - 1550)
After the Norman Conquest of 1066, King William ordered the 'harrying of the north' aimed at wiping out all potential opposition to his rule throughout northern England. We don't know how this affected communities within the AONB, but any that showed as much as a whiff of dissent would have been wiped out, their villages razed to the ground and their farms destroyed.
Updated: 22/07/10
Post-medieval (1550 - 1900)
Lead mining was on a relatively small scale until the mid eighteenth century, but from this time until the early twentieth century much of the North Pennines was dominated by lead mining and the landscape was transformed.
Updated: 26/07/10
