Parc national du Lake District

Sites archéologiques du Parc national du Lake District

Archaeological Sites

The Lake District's archaeological landscape spans from the Neolithic era to the Viking age. Highlights include the Langdale axe quarries, where prehistoric tools were manufactured from volcanic tuff, and Castlerigg Stone Circle, one of Britain's earliest megalithic monuments. Roman influence is visible at the high-altitude Hardknott Fort and the supply base at Galava. Later history is represented by the 10th-century Gosforth Cross, which uniquely blends Christian and Norse mythology through its intricate carvings of the Crucifixion and Ragnarök.

Archaeological Sites — Carte

A

Castlerigg Stone Circle

One of Britain's earliest megalithic monuments, dating to around 3200 BC. The circle consists of 38 stones and an internal rectangular enclosure, positioned to align with the surrounding fells and seasonal solar events.

Paul Hermans / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Hardknott Roman Fort

Hardknott Roman Fort is an archeological site, the remains of the Roman fort Mediobogdum, located on the western side of the challenging…

Simon Burchell / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Galava Roman Fort

Ambleside Roman Fort is the modern name given to the remains of a fort of the Roman province of Britannia.

Bobble Hat / CC-BY-SA-3.0

D

Langdale Axe Stone Quarry

The Langdale axe industry is the name given by archaeologists to specialised stone tool manufacturing centred at Great Langdale in England…

E

Swinside Stone Circle

Swinside, which is also known as Sunkenkirk and Swineshead, is a stone circle lying beside Swinside Fell, part of Black Combe in southern…

cisko66 / CC BY 3.0

F

Castle How Hillfort

An Iron Age hillfort featuring defensive earthworks and ditches. Situated on a steep-sided promontory, it overlooks the northern end of Bassenthwaite Lake and provides evidence of prehistoric settlement in the region.

G

Gosforth Cross

A 10th-century Anglo-Scandinavian stone cross standing nearly 4.5 meters tall. Its intricate carvings depict a unique blend of Christian iconography and Norse mythology, including scenes from Ragnarök such as Vidar slaying Fenrir.

H

Alauna roman fort

Alavana was a name tentatively applied to the ruins of a Roman fort at Watercrook about 2 mi south of Kendal in Cumbria, for which the…

SquarePeg / CC-BY-SA-3.0

I

Kirk Stone

A large natural boulder located at the summit of Kirkstone Pass. Its distinctive shape, which resembles a church steeple or 'kirk,' gave the mountain pass its name.

J

Elva Plain Stone Circle

A Late Neolithic stone circle situated on the southern slopes of Elva Hill. Approximately 30 meters in diameter, fifteen of its original stones remain visible today.

K

Long Barrow - Sampson's Bratfull

A Neolithic burial mound located on Stockdale Moor. Measuring approximately 27 meters in length, this stone-built long barrow represents one of the few examples of its kind in the western Lake District.

L

Giant's Grave

Two prehistoric standing stones located near Kirksanton. These megaliths, standing approximately 2.5 and 3 meters high, are traditionally associated with a giant's burial site and likely date to the Bronze Age.