Archaeological sites which tend to be overlooked by some people are, surprisingly, the places in which our ancestors lived; and then when we do come across such remains they are looked upon as merely ‘domestic’ sites, i.e., that they serve much the same function as our modern houses do. This assumption is both simplistic and naive, as neolithic to Iron Age cultures had very different notions and ingredients about their living quarters. In many settlement remains, the dead were kept with the living; whilst some living quarters were also the abodes of ‘spirit.’ Although we cannot apply this notion across the board, aspects such as these have to be remembered when we try assessing the nature and function of something we see, somewhat profanely, as mere ‘settlements.’ Also remember that people in neolithic through to Iron Age periods were nomadic. There is a notion prevalent in some archaeological circles that when agriculture first arrived in the UK in neolithic times, that it was adopted across the country by all and sundry straight away – which is rather myopic. Much like the North American tribal cultures, small tribal groups here would move from their Spring and Summer settlements to others in the colder seasons, then back again (following the same traditional routes) when Nature’s signs indicated (migration of birds, etc). It’s very unlikely there was a 365-day period where people stayed in the same area. Such a transition took many centuries to become fixed (modern Romany gypsies are the last nomadic cultures of Europe, showing that the notion of ‘settlement’ for everyone is not necessarily the natural order). So prehistoric settlements are important, not merely as sites where communities stayed for periods of time, but also enacted social rituals that were an endemic part of domestic life.
Site Name |
Species |
Grid-Reference / What3Words |
| Addlebrough, Bainbridge, North Yorkshire | ||
| Allt Leathan, Fortingall, Perthshire | Enclosure | NN 7246 5659 |
| Annanshaw Brae, Elvanfoot, Lanarkshire | ||
| Avon Reservoir, Dean Moor, South Brent, Devon | Settlements (destroyed) | SX 677 653 |
| Backstone Beck, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Backstone West, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Bad Chailleach, Little Gruinard, Ross & Cromarty | ||
| Baile Mhargaite (1), Bettyhill, Sutherland | Enclosure | NC 69843 61228 |
| Baile Mhargaite (2), Bettyhill, Sutherland | Enclosure | |
| Baile Mhargaite (3), Bettyhill, Sutherland | Enclosure | |
| Baile Mhargaite (4), Bettyhill, Sutherland | Enclosure | |
| Baile Mhargaite (5), Bettyhill, Sutherland | Enclosure | |
| Barrasford Common, Barrasford, Northumberland | Settlement | NY 9212 7538 |
| Baston Manor, Hayes, Kent | Settlement | TQ 407 649 |
| Bastow Wood, Grassington, North Yorkshire | ||
| Bengengie North, Alva, Clackmannanshire | Enclosure | NN 86680 00601 |
| Bent Gate, Blubberhouse Moor, North Yorkshire | ||
| Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Black Beck, Hawksworth Moor, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 1413 4397 |
| Black Hill, Crawfordjohn, Lanarkshire | ||
| Black Hill, Middleton Moor, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 11757 51949 |
| Blubberhouses Moor, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | |
| Blue Scar, Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SD 9319 7102 |
| Bodsbury Hill, Elvanfoot, Lanarkshire | ||
| Briscoe Rigg, Rigton, North Yorkshire | Settlement (destroyed) | SE 2581 5100 |
| Broadbank Earth Circle, Thursden, Burnley, Lancashire | Enclosure | SD 9024 3522 |
| Brown Law, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Burton Moor, West Burton, North Yorkshire | ||
| Campside Wood, Crawford, Lanarkshire | ||
| Cannings Cross Farm, All Cannings, Wiltshire | ||
| Carle Gill, Leadhills, Lanarkshire | ||
| The Carrs, Ovenden, Halifax, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 0555 2993 |
| Castercliff, Nelson, Lancashire | Enclosure | SD 8850 3840 |
| Castle Hill, Kirklees, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 173 216 |
| Castle Hill, Upper Cumberworth, West Yorkshire | Settlement | SE 2042 0697 |
| Castle Stead, Cullingworth, West Yorkshire | Earthworks | SE 067 354 |
| Castlestead Ring, Cullingworth, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 0514 3627 |
| Catstones Ring, Harden, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 0680 3808 |
| Chapel House Field, Kilnsey, Consistone, North Yorkshire | ||
| Chapel House Wood, Kilnsey, Conistone, North Yorkshire | ||
| Clowder (1), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Enclosures | SD 9165 6968 |
| Clowder (2), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | |
| Clowder (3), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | |
| Clowder (4), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | |
| Coldstone Beck, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | |
| Conichen East, Glen Almond, Perthshire | Settlement | NN 84645 32074 |
| Corbury Hill, Crawford, Lanarkshire | ||
| Corrycharmaig, Glen Lochay, Killin, Perthshire | ||
| Counter Hill, Addingham, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 051 501 |
| Cow Close, Skirethorns, Threshfield, North Yorkshire | ||
| Cow Gill, Bordley, North Yorkshire | ||
| Cowling’s Enclosure, Askwith Moor, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 1793 5127 |
| Cratcliff West, Harthill, Derbyshire | Enclosure | SK 2259 6238 |
| Cratcliff Rocks, Birchover, Derbyshire | ||
| Crawshaw, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Crookedstane, Elvanfoot, Lanarkshire | ||
| Crosley Wood, Bingley, West Yorkshire | Settlement | SE 1186 3859 |
| Crow Well, Denton Moor, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SE 1417 5199 |
| Dewbottoms (1), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SD 9132 6950 |
| Dew Bottoms (2), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Settlement | |
| Dew Bottoms (3), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Settlement | |
| Dew Bottoms (4), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Settlement | |
| Dew Bottoms (5), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Settlement | |
| Dew Bottoms (6), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Settlement | |
| Dew Bottoms (7), Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Settlement | |
| Doddin, Watermeetings, Lanarkshire | ||
| Douky Bottom Ring, Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | SD 95126 68887 |
| Douky Bottom, Arncliffe, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SD 95203 69067 |
| Drake Law, Abington, Lanarkshire | ||
| Dumpit Hill, Hebden, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 02884 64062 |
| Duncroisk, Glen Lochay, Killin, Perthshire | Enclosure | NN 5325 3607 |
| Dunruchan, Muthill, Perthshire | Enclosure | NN 7874 1676 |
| Dyke Hills, Dorchester, Oxfordshire | Settlement | SU 5735 9364 |
| Easington Fell Ring, Newton, Lancashire | Enclosure | SD 7167 4911 |
| Ellershie Hill, Crawford, Lanarkshire | ||
| Elvanfoot Settlement, Lanarkshire | Settlement | |
| Elvanfoot West Settlement, Lanarkshire | Settlement | |
| Fair Oak Circle, Whitewell, Chipping, Lancashire | Settlement | SD 6474 4584 |
| Foster Clough Delph, Midgley Moor, West Yorkshire | Enclosure / Henge | SE 0234 2708 |
| Garchel Burn, Glendevon, Perthshire | Hut Circles | NN 9696 0182 |
| Gastonend Wood, Abington, Lanarkshire | ||
| Gill Head, Blubberhouses Moor, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 1338 5493 |
| Glen Cochill (1), Little Dunkeld, Perthshire | Enclosure | NN 90732 41196 |
| Glen Cochill (2), Little Dunkeld, Perthshire | Enclosure | |
| Glen Cochill (3), Little Dunkeld, Perthshire | Enclosure | |
| Glenochar, Elvanfoot, Lanarkshire | ||
| Grass Woods, Grassington, North Yorkshire | ||
| Great Skirtful Ring, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 1415 4452 |
| Green Crag East, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Green Crag Slack, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire | Settlement | |
| Green Plain, Blubberhouses Moor, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SE 1492 5378 |
| Hammond Close, Threshfield, North Yorkshire | Enclosures | SD 9517 6488 |
| Hawksworth Moor, Hawksworth, West Yorkshire | ||
| Helwith Bridge, Stainforth, North Yorkshire | ||
| Hickford Hill, Belchamp St Paul, Essex | Enclosure | TL 7872 4537 |
| High Close Pasture, Grassington, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SE 003 652 |
| High Hill, Sigsworth Moor, Fountains Earth, North Yorkshire | ||
| High Mark, Bordley, North Yorkshire | ||
| High Sleets, Hawkswick, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | SD 95415 69019 |
| Hollin Tree Hill, Askwith Moor, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SE 1671 5067 |
| Horn Bank, Rigton, North Yorkshire | Settlement (destroyed) | SE 2905 5035 |
| Horncliffe Circle, Hawksworth Moor, West Yorkshire | ‘Stone Circle’ | SE 13335 43532 |
| Horse Close Hill, Skipton, North Yorkshire | Enclosure / Settlement | SD 9966 5046 |
| Hurl Burn, Crawford, Lanarkshire | ||
| Innischoarach, Glen Lochay, Killin, Perthshire | ||
| Ivy Chimneys, Witham, Essex | Settlement (destroyed) | TL 811 136 |
| Kealcup Hill, Bordley, North Yorkshire | ||
| Kimpergill Hill, Grassington, North Yorkshire | ||
| Lael Forest, Braemore, Ross & Cromarty | ||
| Langcliffe, Kettlewell, North Yorkshire | ||
| Lanshaw, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Lea Green, Grassington, North Yorkshire | Settlement | |
| Lantern Holes, Bordley, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SD 9528 6574 |
| Lodge Hill, Elvanfoot, Lanarkshire | ||
| Marchup, Addingham, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 0478 4987 |
| Meg Dyke, Barkisland, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 0496 1747 |
| Mellon Udrigle, Ross & Cromarty | ||
| Middle House Pasture, Waterhouses, Malham, North Yorkshire | ||
| Moor Lane, Threshfield, North Yorkshire | ||
| Mossy Dod, Crawford, Lanarkshire | ||
| Newton Bridge, Fowlis Wester, Perthshire | Enclosure | NN 8884 3155 |
| Normangill Rig, Crawford, Lanarkshire | ||
| North Ring, Mucking, Stanford-le-Hope, Essex | Enclosure (destroyed) | TQ 675 811 |
| North Shortcleuch, Elvanfoot, Lanarkshire | ||
| Oldfield Hill, Meltham, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 0874 1009 |
| Outgang Hill, Kilnsey, Conistone, North Yorkshire | ||
| Overlee, Clarkston, Renfrewshire | Souterrains & Settlement (destroyed) | NS 577 572 |
| Panorama Woods, Ilkley, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | |
| Power Station Road, Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, Kent | Settlement (destroyed) | TQ 932 733 |
| Prior Rakes, Malham Moor, North Yorkshire | ||
| Proctor High Mark, Bordley, North Yorkshire | ||
| Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire | Settlement (destroyed) | SE 309 336 |
| Rams Hill, Kingston Lisle, Oxfordshire | ||
| Raven’s Peak, Blubberhouses Moor, North Yorkshire | ||
| Reed Gill, Camps Water, Crawford, Lanarkshire | ||
| Rivock, Riddlesden, Keighley, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 0768 4414 |
| Round Dikes, Addingham, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 0552 5013 |
| Royd Edge, Meltham, West Yorkshire | ||
| Rushy Beck, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Rushy Beck West, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Rybury Hill, All Cannings, Wiltshire | ||
| Sand, Applecross, Ross & Cromarty | ||
| Scot Gate Pasture, Conistone, North Yorkshire | ||
| Shay Gate, Wilsden, West Yorkshire | ||
| Shealwalls, Alyth, Perthshire | Enclosure | NO 23922 51484 |
| Sheep Scar, Giggleswick, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | SD 80648 66374 |
| Sheriff Hill, Malham, North Yorkshire | ||
| Shooting House Hill, Askwith Moor, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SE 1711 5110 |
| Shorkley Hill, Malham, North Yorkshire | ||
| Skelshaw Ring, Easington, Lancashire | Enclosure | SD 7194 5037 |
| Slade, Blubberhouses Moor, North Yorkshire | ||
| Sleets Gill Top, Hawkswick, North Yorkshire | Enclosure | SD 95735 69145 |
| Snowden Carr, Askwith, North Yorkshire | Settlement | |
| Snowden Moor, Askwith, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SE 1785 5128 |
| South Kirkby, South Yorkshire | Hillfort / Settlement | SE 435 104 |
| Springfield Lyons, Chelmsford, Essex | Enclosure | TL 7357 0818 |
| Stanbury Hill, Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire | Enclosures | SE 109 433 |
| Stanwick Fortifications, Stanwick-St-John, North Yorkshire | Settlement | NZ 1783 1229 |
| Stead Crag, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Steyforth Hill, Stainburn, North Yorkshire | ||
| Stoop Hill, Askwith Moor, North Yorkshire | ||
| Stridebut Edge, Malham, North Yorkshire | ||
| Studfold Ring, Amplethorpe, North Yorkshire | Enclosure / Settlement | SE 58122 79855 |
| Sun Bank, Blubberhouses Moor, North Yorkshire | ||
| Swinston Hill, Dinnington, South Yorkshire | Settlement | SK 5395 8460 |
| Talmine (west), Melness, Tongue, Sutherland | Settlement | NC 5764 6248 |
| Tattersal Pasture, Bordley, North Yorkshire | ||
| Tooter Hill, Bacup, Lancashire | Settlement | SD 888 237 |
| Torlery Edge, Malham Moor, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SD 898 653 |
| Torr Mor, Applecross, Ross & Cromarty | Settlement | NG 709 431 |
| Townhead, Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Argyll | Settlement (destroyed) | NS 086 635 |
| Tullich, Glen Lochay, Killin, Perthshire | Enclosure | NN 5235 3684 |
| Werneth Low, Hyde, Lancashire | Settlement (destroyed) | SJ 959 928 |
| Wharncliffe Moor, Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire | ||
| Wheen, Glen Clova, Angus | Settlement | NO 3661 7044 |
| Whelphill, Crawford, Lanarkshire | ||
| Winsbury Hill, Marksbury, Somerset | Enclosure (destroyed) | ST 6706 6307 |
| Woofa Bank, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire | Enclosure | SE 13890 45516 |
| Yarmer Head, Nidd, North Yorkshire | ||
| Yarnbury, Grassington, North Yorkshire | Settlement | SE 012 655 |