SWAAG: SWALEDALE & ARKENGARTHDALE ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP
http://www.swaag.org/

SWAAG was launched in 2009 by a group of enthusiasts wishing to contribute to the knowledge base of the history of our two dales of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. We attempt to link the historic landscape with the human history of the two dales in a way which is both academically rigorous and informative and instructive for everyone with an interest in the area.

SWAAG is associated with the Friends of the Swaledale Museum. Our Honorary President and guru is Tim Laurie, Co-Director of the Swaledale Ancient Land Boundaries Project 1984-1993 and the leading expert on prehistoric landscapes in the area who has many surveys, excavations and publications to his credit.

Our work programme provides something to interest everyone: training walks and seminars; desk-top research on documents, Google Earth and aerial photographs; site surveying, mapping and drawing (with an emphasis on the use of GPS, Geophysics  and I.T.); photography and sketching; geology, geomorphology and historic land use; recording ancient trees and hedgerows; field-walking; excavation; recording and analysis of finds; and producing published reports.

Please see our comprehensive website which has details of our activities which include excavation, landscape and geophysical surveying, geology, documentary research, local botany and landscape interpretation walks. Meeting details are on the Activities pages of the website. 

SWAAG welcomes new members. Please contact us at info@swaag.org, telephone 01748-880297 or complete and return the Membership Form on the website.

Our current main priority is the Swaledale Big  Project which aims to add to our knowledge of the three villages of Reeth, Grinton and Fremington through a programme of documentary research, traditional and geophysical survey and test-pitting and finds recording and analysis along lines developed by Dr Carenza Lewis who launched our project and retains a keen interest.

We are currently developing a Local History Group which will cooperate with the North Yorkshire County Record Office to transcribe and digitize the 1844 Tithe Apportionment Records for Grinton and Reeth.

Peter Denison-Edson, Chairman SWAAG
February 2015