THE STUDY AREA, located on open moorland, is rich in relict medieval boundaries and traces of industrial activity. A sequence of land boundary types can be established and the history of colonization and land use reconstructed. The sequence stretches from the establishment of a small pre-Conquest hamlet through a period of expansion in the 13th century of commoners from two nearby manors, to later retrenchment and abandonment. Medieval and post-medieval tin-working can be demonstrated, with associated rabbit buries. The changing character of boundaries, lanes and moorgates reveals changing priorities in livestock management. The history of cultivation is briefly discussed. The general approach, which is almost purely an archaeological one, should be capable of application elsewhere, and of further refinement to suit local circumstances.
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Fleming et al. (1982) studied this question.