I recently had a good look around Knot Mine for evidence of fire setting and
althought much of it is the right shape there was no evidence of fire
reddening of the rock or sooting except in one location. I am strongly
inclined to dismiss that site as a modern fire as it is close to the
entrance and there is ample evidence of modern use by walkers using it as a
shelter / toilet.
The mine is one huge rabbit warren and so most of the floor deposits are
very disturbed and contain a lot of "organic" material with no signs of
wood, charcoal or coal as might be expected from firesetting. A number of
shotholes were noted but those could just represent a 19th century phase of
use. The chambers in the mine have the feel of a phreatic cave system and it
may be possible that the ore body was a replacement deposit within a
pre-existing cave. There are no levels as such, but then you would not
expect them in the 16th century except for perhaps drainage adits, but my
feeling is that these were not that common. Fire setting may not have been
needed for working the ore so would be more likely for the sinking of shafts
or driving crosscuts, but there is little surviving evidence for these as
the ore body outcrops.
All that aside it is an intresting mine and it would repay further
investigation as i would agree it is a good fit for Leland's description.
Martin
Meerstone Archaeological Consultancy
http://www.martinroe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/meerstone.htm
Lead Mining in the Yorkshire Dales,
http://www.martinroe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
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