It's the western boundary of the North Pennines - which is promoted as England's Last Wilderness. The native track that became a Roman road, named the Maiden Way, comes down onto the plain near there. Another Roman road went across country from there to what-is-now Scotch Corner. Mark Antony was a Roman.Because this area was densely populated in Neolithic times and hasn't been built on since, there is great potential for discovering previously unknown sites. It can be assumed that copper smelting was taking place in the hills - a stone spear mould dug up at Croglin supports that view - and there was wealth, as supported by the find of the Kirkhaugh ear ornament nearby. The Romans may have exploited the silver ore nearby - as ,ay the ancients. There's no evidence for lead working before the Medieaval period, but it is expected to have occurred. There's also circumstantial evidence for alluvial gold extraction. All this ten, fifteen, miles north of Kirkland - and all activities that would need substantial amounts of food.
