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The Stiperstones survey

2. Survey findings

Discoveries

Amongst the new discoveries made on the Stiperstones are a number of Bronze Age cairns, including this ring cairn. These monuments were part of a ritual landscape associated with death and burial in the late Neolithic and early Bronze Ages (c. 2500bc - 1400bc).

Photograph of a Bronze Age ring cairn [Opens in new window: image size xxxkb]

A Bronze Age ring cairn west of Cranberry Rock
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[Shropshire Archaeology Service]

At the north end of The Paddocks settlement a large stone was found set within a dry-stone wall. On closer inspection a whole series of stones were found beneath the wall and these may be part of a stone row, a ritual monument of late Neolithic or early Bronze Age date.

A possible standing stone set within a later dry-stone wall. Further large stones have been built over by the wall and may mark the line of a prehistoric stone row.

A photograph of a possible standing stone [Opens in new window: image size 71kb]

Possible standing stone
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[Shropshire Archaeology Service]

Certain features were already well-known at the time of the survey, such as the Castle Ring hillfort. The survey however has identified a number of new features within the fort, including several possible hut platforms at its southern end.

Castle Ring hillfort on the west side of the ridge is the only known Iron Age feature on the Stiperstones. A number of possible hut platforms were recorded by the survey, clustered inside the entrance to the fort.

Photograph of the Castle Ring hillfort [Opens in new window: image size 49kb]

Castle Ring Hillfort
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[Shropshire Archaeology Service]

The Black Ditch

The Black Ditch is a feature made up of a bank with a ditch on its east side which runs for over 1km along the southwest edge of The Stiperstones. The Black Ditch has been incorporated into a post-medieval field system, but its origins may be medieval or even older.

Photograph of Black Ditch [Opens in new window: image size 52kb]

The Black Ditch
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[Shropshire Archaeology Service]

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Find out about some of the findings of the survey.

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Page created 2 July 2004 and last updated 13 July 2007

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