Back in the office
The first season of the survey has come to an end and we are now relegated back to the office to compile the results of all of those days out on the moor. Instead of gazing out at the view from the moor, the parade of spreadsheets and datapoints begins. Having spent four weeks surveying, we have accomplished good coverage, recording much of the area south of Low and High Parkamoor. A total of 200 features were found, including many trackways, quarries, walls, and the odd sheepfold. The Lake District is known for its continuous tradition of animal husbandry and the effect it has had in shaping the landscape. The mostly agricultural sites on Bethecar Moor fit into this narrative. Though cattle roamed the area, there was no evidence of a prolonged use of the moorland for cattle-rearing. Instead, hoggholes, sheepfolds, and bields reigned supreme as historically the Moor has been primarily used for sheep farming. On the southern edge of Bethecar Moor, nearer the settlements, the
