AN archaeological dig has begun for the first time in a part of the dale that has long been suspected of being historically significant.
Gueswick Hills, along the side of the River Tees, near Cotherstone, was considered important by renowned dale archaeologists Dennis Coggins and Ken Fairless years ago after they discovered pre-historic rock art in the area, but it has never been properly examined.
Now a dig has been undertaken by Altogether Archaeology after a magnetronomy study by Stephen Eastmead found anomalies under the ground.
Altogether Archaeology is an independent group which grew from a Heritage Lottery-funded project by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership.
Archaeologist Harriet Sams, who is helping at the site, said a horseshoe-shaped area that came up in the magentronomy images may well be a ditch which formed an enclosure around a possible settlement.
Also of interest are terraces carved into the hillside.
Mrs Sams said: “What brought us here originally are these cultivation terraces. We are looking to try and date the construction of them.”
Another area of interest is a mound at the top of the hill which is thought to be a possible burial cairn.
The archaeologist added: “There are so many enigmatic bits and bobs. What we have is a multi-phased site – from bronze age, into the iron age, potentially to a medieval building.”
Another discovery was a quern stone by Dr Rob Young. Quern stones were used in ancient times to grind flour.
Dr Young said: “That one is probably iron age, or any time from 800 BC and the time of the Romans.”
Mrs Sams believes the area has been important to people in ancient times because of its proximity to one of the few crossing points along the River Tees.
The dig consists of an excavation on one of the cultivation terraces by Phd student Perry Garden to determine their age by examining the soil, and trenches being dug by volunteers.
Half way through the dig last week volunteers had come across a layer of rocks in the trench.
Mrs Sams said: “We came upon these stones and we are going under them to see if the ditch is underneath. I will be really delighted if we at least find the ditch.”
