Posted on 02/14/2011 6:16:22 PM PST by SunkenCiv
The so-called Roman Ridge is a 2,000-year-old earthwork which pre-dates the arrival of the Romans in Britain. Experts believe it was constructed to mark territories or grazing areas for cattle in an area which once marked the southern borders of the Brigantes, the biggest tribe in Celtic Britain who lived in what is now northern England.
The portion of the earthwork, which stands up to two metres tall and stretches for 730 metres into Swinton Wood, is a rare survivor. The feature once covered 12 miles between Wincobank and the area beyond Wath upon Dearne. It will now be repaired after English Heritage signed an agreement with its owners, Richard and Sue Fulbrook, who are urging walkers to report any damage they notice. "This is a very important yet fragile monument and we are fortunate that it has survived for so long," said Richard. "Everyone can play a part in ensuring it is protected and I would volunteers coming forward to help in the task"
(Excerpt) Read more at stonepages.com ...
Roman RidgeLinear earthwork extending for a distance of 10 miles, and is thought to be Iron Age or early Medieval in date, possibly a boundary.
PastScape
The Roman Rig, a linear earthwork, extends for some ten miles from the Pennine foothills in Sheffield to low ground near Mexborough (SE 4700) and near Kilnhurst (SK 460 976). In the west, where steep slopes form the northern side of the Don valley, the `Rig' is single, but to the east, double earthworks running more or less parallel and up to a mile apart, continue across undulating country.
The general layout suggests that the earthwork was intended to restrict access from the middle Don valley to the upland region to the north and north-west.
There is slight evidence to suggest a Brigantian date for the earthwork. This consists of a fragment of 3rd century mortarium rim found at Hilltop in 1947 on the level of the secondary silting of the ditch (SK 3981 9255), also a Roman coin hoard (SK 39 SE 23) found in 1891 apparently in the ridge, but these finds are not regarded as being conclusive, and the possibility of an Anglian date cannot be excluded.
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It’s dirt ~ lots of stuff in dirt.
One Giant Speed Bump for Chariots
You mean that walls at the border are not a new thing?
For a long time, Wat’s Dyke in Wales was thought to have been in response to Offa’s Dyke, but it turns out that Wat’s Dyke is centuries older, and probably was what gave Offa the idea.
:’)
I wonder if anyone ever tried a drive-through restaurant in the chariot era?
So, Wat got Offa da Dyke?
Note: this repinged topic is from 2/14/2011.I'd forgotten about it, completely.
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