A Conservation Audit of Archaeological Cave Resources in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales

Helen Holderness, ARCUS, University of Sheffield, West Court, 2 Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 4DT, UK.
email:
Glyn Davies, ARCUS, University of Sheffield, West Court, 2 Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 4DT, UK.
email:
Andrew Chamberlain, Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, S1 4ET, UK.
email:
Randolph Donahue, Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK.
email:

Background
Caves that contain archaeological remains are vulnerable to intrusive disturbance, but it is often not known which caves are likely to contain archaeologically important material and whether the archaeological deposits are adequately protected. In 2004 English Heritage funded a 15 month project to study the conservation status of archaeological caves in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. The aims of the study were to assess the archaeological potential, current management and potential threats to the integrity of deposits in archaeological caves within the National Parks. The project was directed by Andrew Chamberlain and Randolph Donahue at the Universities of Sheffield and Bradford and has been carried out by Helen Holderness, with the assistance of Glyn Davies. The purpose of this audit was to review the state of the current knowledge of the caves of a defined region of England, to devise a programme of visits to survey and assess the condition of known caves and their contents, to develop a predictive model that uses topographical and geomorphological data to identify caves that have a high potential for containing archaeological evidence, and to generate recommendations for future research and management of the cave archaeological resource.

Three reports have been generated from this project which was completed in January 2006, and these reports are archived here in their original state. They comprise a research report, a management report and protocol report. The research report covers the aims, methodology and study areas, with detailed sections on the two areas (Peak District and Yorkshire Dales) organised by limestone catchment. Each catchment section contains information on the location and geomorphology, ownership, land use and access, and the archaeology and conservation status of the caves. The data collected in the survey (which included location, aspect, cave size etc) were analysed to understand why particular caves were used in the past, and provide a predictive model to assess the potential presence of archaeological remains in unexcavated caves. The management report includes a summary of current threats and makes suggestions for management action, and the protocol report draws on the experience gained in this project to provide suggested fieldwork protocols for national study.

Keywords - caves, audit, survey, National Park, Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, England.


Download reports


Return to issue seven title page

© CAPRA 2007