SWAAG http://www.swaag.org is a newly formed group of enthusiasts in the northernmost Yorkshire Dales who plan to contribute to the knowledge base of the history of our dales through the full range of archaeological activity.

SWAAG is affiliated with the Swaledale Museum, and began work in July 2009 under the guidance and supervision of Tim Laurie, the leading expert on prehistoric landscapes in the area, with many landscape surveys, excavations and publications to his credit.

Our work programme will provide something to interest everyone:

• Desk-top research on documents
• Google Earth
• Aerial and site photographs
• Site surveying
• Mapping and drawing
• Linking geology to historic land use
• Recording ancient hedgerows and vintage trees
• Field-walking
• Excavation
• Recording and analysis of finds
• Producing published reports

Our first survey is focussing on previously unrecorded Iron Age/Romano-British settlements in Swaledale. We plan over time to study a wide range of sites from prehistoric through Romano-British to medieval and lead mining.