Monument record MDR6576 - Holly Shelter, Creswell Crags, Hodthorpe and Belph
Type and Period (2)
- ROCK SHELTER (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- HEARTH (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
In 1969, excavations were conducted by J B Campbell at a number of sites in Creswell Crags including Holly Shelter, a shallow cliff overhang at SK5349 7422. However the shelter was found to be completely sterile except for a 19th century hearth just below the surface. (1)
This site, named and excavated by J B Campbell in 1969, is a small area on the northern face of Creswell Crags where an overhang is present. Campbell's trench was largely sterile with the exception of a 19th century hearth; indeed it has been suggested that the 'shelter' itself could be the result of 19th century quarrying. Work by Jenkinson showed that the overhang was reduced in size in the 1950s in order to ensure the safety of the nearby road users. Whatever the nature of formation of the shelter, it is clear that pre-1950 an overhang existed at Holly Shelter, making it a potential site for archaeological deposits. The disappointing results of Campbell's excavation are presumably due at least in part to the proximity of bedrock to the present-day surface and to its downward dip, both factors severely limiting the possibility of survival of archaeological deposits at the foot of the rock face. A potential overlooked by Campbell is that deposits may have survived further away from the rock face. (2)
The site lies within the scheduled area of Creswell Crags. (4)
Small shelter which could be the result of 1950s quarring operations. Excavated by Campbell (1969) but was sterile except for a 19th century hearth on the original rock-face line. (5)
Sources/Archives (5)
- <1> SDR3762 Bibliographic reference: Campbell, J. 1969. 'Excavations at Creswell Crags, Preliminary report', Derbyshire Archaeological Journal. Volume 89, pp 47-58. p 48.
- <2> SDR8064 Monograph: Jenkinson, R. 1984. Creswell Crags: Late Pleistocene Sites in the East Midlands, British Archaeological Reports 122. p 131.
- <3> SDR11118 Index: North Derbyshire Archaeological Trust (NDAT). North Derbyshire Archaeological Trust Index: 1945. 1945.
- <4> SDR18390 Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1988. Scheduling Notification: Palaeolithic and Later Prehistoric Sites at Creswell Gorge…... 275. Cat. No. 275.
- <5> SDR23291 Bibliographic reference: Jenkinson, R. 1978. The archaeological caves and rock shelters in the Creswell Crags area, Creswell Crags Visitor Centre research report No. 1.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 5343 7419 (18m by 9m) (Centre) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | HODTHORPE AND BELPH, BOLSOVER, DERBYSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- EDR3837
- EDR3853
- EDR259
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Jun 12 2017 4:43PM