Hunthall Hill (Dere Street)

NT71SE 21 771 120

See also NT71SE 49.

(Name: NT 7717 1205) Earthworks (NR)

OS 6"map, (1962).

Five linear earthworks, one of which is described on NT71SE 49, span the neck that runs between Hunthall Hill and Woden Law.

The SW end of earthwork 'A' (see RCAHMS 1956, plan, fig.221) begins as a shallow excavation descending the rocky face of a knoll; as it descends this cutting swings N and NE and deepens to become a shallow ditch running NE across the neck. From the point where it turns NE it is backed by a low upcast bank on its NW, or downhill, side. In the centre of the neck bank and ditch are interrupted for 81", Dere Street and its tracks passing through the gap. NE of the gap the work continues as far as the edge of the neck, where it dies out on the lip of the steep descent to Twise Hope. The NE end of the ditch bears a narrow upcast bank on its SE side. This earthwork is probably a substantial boundary mark, erected across a frequented route, its upturned SW end being perhaps intended to indicate the direction of the boundary line across rocky ground where no mound or ditch could be made. Earthworks 'B', 'C', and 'D' lie respectively 90, 140, and 190 yds SE of NT71SE 49, and each consists of a low, widely spread bank with traces of a ditch on its SE side, extending from the SW side of Dere Street for a short distance down the slope forming the head of White Hope. Very faint traces of their NE ends appear on the opposite side of Dere Street, on the lip of the steep descent to Twise Hope. Excavation of 'B' has shown that it is later than the Roman road (Information from Sir W de L Aitchison), but it is also clear that they antedate some, at least, of the post-Roman traffic that has passed along the neck, as they are scored by faint tracks which lead to breaks in the adjoining barrier RCAHMS 1956, visited 1938 and 1945.

As described above.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 13 September 1960.

No change.

Visited by OS (BS) 7 September 1976.