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A visit to Lordenshaws is a
must. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Northumberland
National Park.
Access is from the B6342 road from Rothbury in the direction of Hexham and then along a
track towards Simonside. You will find a car park on the right with a notice board and
signs pointing the way. However a more interesting walk from the centre of the village,
taking in Whitton Tower and Sharpe's Folly may be more rewarding.
Lordenshaws is supposed to be a corruption of 'Lower Dean Shaw' and Chambers dictionary
tells us that a 'dean' is a small valley whilst a 'shaw' is a small wood. Today
there are few woods or forests on these hills, but perhaps there were in the past.
This iron age camp stands some 879 feet above sea level. and whilst its three circular
ramparts are not particularly well preserved the fort itself is larger than
usual. At nearby Garleigh hill are two watch towers that have been associated with the
camp, and three more on the higher points of Simonside.
The remains of the old deer park walls can be found nearby which probably accounts
for the poor state of the iron age fortifications when Robert Fitz Rogers built the deer
park in the thirteenth century.
The area is alive with prehistory; dotted around are the remains of burial mounds;
most of which have been excavated
many years ago.
Just
to the west of the camp can be found a large rock with cup and ring marks.
Known generally as rock art these markings are a very
important and mysterious part of our heritage. Although
similiar marks have been found all over
 Northumberland
and elsewhere, the meaning
and purpose are still a mystery. Today we know very
little about rock art nor the people who created it.
Markings
usually consist of concentric circles, small hollows
and horseshoe shaped grooves of great antiquity. The
general opinion being that they are Neolithic, dating from somewhere between.
4,000 and 2,000 BC..
In the past two years there has been a concerted effort to
survey and record rock art in Northumberland and Durham together with an
overview of the area in which it is found. The results will be published in a
web site and database for detailed analysis.
And for
interested scholars Stan Beckinsall who is considered to be the
foremost authority has published a number of books on the subject.
Similar markings have been discovered in other areas of Britain and
there are even claims of cup and ring marks as far away
as Australia. Were they fertility
symbols or the iron age equivalent of Crop Circles?
For more information
access on the following web sites:
www.dur.ac.uk/prehistoric.art
www.durham.gov.uk
www.northumberland.gov.uk
www.english-heritage.org.uk
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