| Description | Gorple Upper Reservoir has been visited during periods of low water level by Brian Howcroft (Huddersfield and District Arch.Soc) over a number of years. SMR record has information for finds made between October 1975 and November 1982. These sites have produced Mesolithic and Neolithic flints and all are situated around the northern edge of the reservoir. Mr.Howcroft has located three sites at SD 924 315, SD 923 316 and SD 922 315 and two further sites which he defines as Level 1 and Level 2 (significance of term `level' not clear i.e. does it refer to water level or stratification within reservoir deposits?). The first three sites produced mainly round scrapers (7 altogether) and 10 waste pieces. Sites called Levels 1 and 2 produced much more varied assemblage, comprising round and side scrapers, leaf and barbed and tanged arrowheads, knives, gravers, saw, microliths, cores and waste material of Mesolithic and Neolithic character. The nature and quantities of flint found, together with the location, suggest settlement sites on the edge of a former stream or small pool. In addition to these finds, a most interesting trackway was observed (in 1976) at low water. The trackway comprised a line of natural stones set edge to edge and bounded by a line of smaller stones; within the area covered by the reservoir, the trackway ran for 262 metres from west to east at western end of reservoir and was observed to continue westwards across drier peat moorland for at least as far again. Small section of trackway was excavated by Mr.Howcroft and appears from photograph to lie under reservoir bottom sediements rather than peat (check with Mr. H.). Date of trackway in uncertain; it has appearance of a medieval packhorse track and may have been easiest route east west at this point during the Middle Ages and later, following a stream. Alternatively, the trackway may be Pennine equivalent of Somerset Levels trackways which are of prehistoric origin and frequently led to areas of drier land where settlements were located. Mr. Howcroft is still obtaining flint from both Upper and Lower (PRN 3870) Gorple Reservoirs and has promised to update this record (and PRN 3870) (pers.comm. with J.M. and B.Y. 22/9/1991) in due course. The trackway is still an enigma; seek second opinion from Susan Hogg. |