A Taste of the Peak District

Accommodation and attractions of the Peak District of the UK

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Introduction to Archaeology in the Peak District

The Peak District and surrounding areas are rich in archaeological remains, dating back to the stone ages, one of the most important of these being Cresswell Crags. Cresswell Crags are a series of caves that represent the earliest human occupation. Cresswell Crags lie just outside of the Peak District but are well worth a visit if you are on the East side of the region. There are literally dozens of other caves and rock shelters in the heart of the Peak District. Please click here for more information. The majority are more recent, the Bronze age is well represented by stone circles and the well known Swine Sty settlement, there are Iron age hillforts (notably Mam Tor and Carl Wark although the latter has not been conclusively dated and could span more than one period.), a few Roman remains such as Doctors Gate Roman road and the site of the fort Derventio in Derby, some Anglo-Saxon carvings scattered round the Peak's churches (like T'Owd Man in Wirksworth church, depicting a lead miner with pick and ore basket plus the fine collection in the porch of Bakewell church) and to the south of the Peak in the Trent Valley.

There are many legends around the Peak, some say that Robin Hood was actually based in the moors around Hathersage. There are various pieces of evidence for this, including the area of Stanage Edge called Robin Hood's Cave. This would have been an ideal refuge for a band of outlaws. It seems more likely that many areas of the country used the name ‘Robin Hood’ to describe their local outlaws.

Below - the escarpment of Carl Wark hill fort, Burbage valley.

DISCLAIMER - probably not necessary but we need to let you know that this information and all of the other information in the archaeology section is given in good faith and has been compiled from notes taken whilst attending an evening class in archaeology (quite a few years ago now so there may be new knowledge of these sites). If you decide to visit any of the sites, please take great care. We cannot accept any liability for your actions in exploring any of the sites mentioned on our web site. Nor can we accept any liability from any use of the information given here. If it is for educational purposes, please cross check with other sources.

Summary of Archaeological time in the Peak District.

12000 to 8000 BC (late upper Palaeolithic)

Environment - Tundra, main trees were dwarf birch and there were beaver, fox, horse and badger present. Land bridge to Europe still available.

Archaeology - Limited to a few finds in caves in the Manifold Valley (see caves page for more information)

8000 to 4000 BC (Mesolithic)

Environment - Warmer conditions, birch and pine giving way to deciduous forests. Wet, many small lakes, rivers and streams. Land bridge to Europe now cut off by rising sea levels. Peat formation initiated, possibly by foreest clearance using fire.

Archaeology - Manifold valley, including microliths indicating a hunter-gatherer culture with possible seasonal migration.

4000 to 2000 BC (Neolithic)

Environment - warm conditions with oak woodland dominant.

Archaeology - Bark ringing to  clear woodland, earthworks (Arbor Low is best known and it had a stone circle added at a later date) built late in the period, standing stones, burial mounds with cists (burial chambers).

2000 to 700 BC (Bronze Age)

Environment - weather deteriorated towards end of the Bronze Age, main trees were oak, ash, hazel and elm.

Archaeology - Fortified settlements (late bronze age), tools or mainly stone and bone, stone circles with astronomical alignments, jewellery, weapons that appears to be more about status than fighting, barrows, and the arrival of the Beaker culture (not known if it was an invasion, mixing of peoples or an adoption of external ideas).

700 BC to 50 AD (Iron Age)

Environment - even cooler and wetter than at end of Bronze Age.

Archaeology - some hill forts and crop marks of settlements, generally poorly represented.

50 - 350 AD (Roman)

Archaeology - Derbyshire ware and evidence of lead mining.

400 - 900 AD (Saxon)

Archaeology - Carved crosses, barrows with grave goods and also place names.

900 to 1600 AD (medieval)

Archaeology - Norman castles e.g. Peveril Castle and Motte and Bailey castles, Manorial centres.

1600 AD onwards

Archaeology - mining and the industrial revolution

The times are approximate and applicable only to the Peak District, thes equivalent ages begin and end sooner or later in different regions of the UK.