Programme 2010 - 2011
Day
Date
Title
Speaker
Friday
19th March 2010
Carlcroft - A Roman-British Estate in Upland Craven
In Dr Martlew's words, the limestone area of the Yorkshire Dales is a landscape palimpsest, with evidence of settlement and land use from the mesolithic to the present, layer superimposed on layer. The Research Project on which he is currently engaged, and which he described in his presentation, is centered upon an area of the west bank of the Wharfe, between Grassington and Kilnsey, and ranges from the low-lying land along the river bank to the flat top of the ridge. Afer a complicated documentary investigation, the river-bank area has been identified as Carlcroft, an Anglo-Norse name.
There are numerous indications of usage, some being obvious examples of field boundaries and trackways, but many are ambiguous, not easily dateable even following careful excavation. Both the paucity of artefacts and the thinness of the top cover over the bedrock usually preclude the establishment of a reliable site chronology, to the point where an apparent structure could be 1700 BC or AD.
He accompanied his talk with a splendid series of slides of photographs and drawings, on which the signs of previous land use were easily recognisable. He concluded his talk with an invitation to members to visit the site and participate in the Research Project, at the Dales Heritage Field School, 3rd - 24th July 2010. Details of this event, and an application form are on The Yorkshire Dales Landscape Research Trust website.
Dr Roger Martlew
Friday
16th April 2010
Human bones, and what they can tell the archaeologist
Janet gave the Society a most interesting presentation, showing how even a very small sample from a poorly-preserved burial can provide a mass of information. The information gives an insight not just into the lives and deaths of individuals but also the experiences and fate of whole populations.
For an individual, data about gender, age, size, weight, health, occupation and racial origin can often be determined or inferred from meagre skeletal remains. From a sufficient array of individuals these data can then be extrapolated to identify population sizes, settlement patterns, migration routes, general health and well-being and agricultural success rates in providing for dietary needs.
Janet brought a sample of bones from the Leeds University collection to illustrate her words. Members were able to examine and handle these specimens, which proved to be an additional highlight to a well-presented, educational and entertaining talk.
Janet Fletcher - Osteoarchaeologist and Palaeopathologist - Leeds University
Friday
21st May 2010
Lime burning and the Land. The role of lime in shaping the modern landscape
Dr Johnson gave a wide-ranging talk, showing that lime was not only important in agriculture, but also in building (for mortar and limewash) and in rural trades such as tanning, dyeing and bleaching.
Limestone was burnt in kilns to form quick lime which was then slaked, often by being left to be slaked naturally by rain. Lime kilns, though more common in the uplands, can be found at any altitude, even near sea level. They may be associated with a quarry, but limestone was also taken from river stones, hushed from the glacial clay (as near Burnley) or brought in from elsewhere.
The earliest kilns were simply covered scoops in the ground; the oldest identified in the Pennines is from the thirteenth century near Slaidburn. The familiar small arched kilns became commoner from the seventeenth century and continued even during the nineteenth century when larger industrial kilns were also built. Liming the land helps to lighten clay soils, sweeten acid ones and counteract the acid effect of muck spreading. In the twentieth century liming decreased as other forms of land improvement were used and it ceased in the 1970’s when the subsidy was discontinued. Lime that is spread today is ground limestone not burnt slaked lime.
David Johnson
Saturday
12th June 2010
Visit to Halton Castle and Norton Priory.
Report to follow. Photographs by Bill Shannon here.
Thursday
1st July 2010
Evening walk round Garstang. (See Note B)
Booking details to be advised
Dr Alan Crosby
Saturday
25th September 2010
Visit to Carlisle. (See Note B)
Booking details to be advised
Friday
15th October 2010
Roman-British landscapes
Mike Nevell
Friday
19th November 2010
The Lancaster Canal
Colin Dickinson
Friday
21st January 2011
AGM and members' evening
Friday
18th February 2011
To be confirmed
To be confirmed
Note A
Additional information will be posted here, or in Society news, as soon as it becomes available. This information will include methods of travel (coach or car), costs, times and detailed itineraries.
Note B
Members and guests are only invited to participate in this visit on the condition that they take care to avoid injury to themselves and to others and to property belonging to themselves and others. By agreeing to participate in this visit they accept that neither the Society nor its officers or leaders accepts responsibility for any loss caused by any person on the visit, however caused.
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