© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)
The Thieves' Dikes is a prehistoric linear earthwork located in Yorkshire, England, consisting of a substantial bank and ditch system that formed a territorial or defensive boundary. The monument dates to the Bronze Age, when such linear features were commonly constructed across the British landscape to demarcate land holdings or control movement across the terrain. The earthwork survives as a prominent archaeological feature, with its bank and associated ditch still clearly visible in the modern landscape. These linear boundaries represent significant evidence of Bronze Age land organisation and social structure in the Yorkshire region.
The Thieves' Dikes: prehistoric linear boundaries and associated features is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1019627. View the official record →
The Thieves' Dikes is a prehistoric linear earthwork located in Yorkshire, England, consisting of a substantial bank and ditch system that formed a territorial or defensive boundary. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1019627.
The Thieves' Dikes: prehistoric linear boundaries and associated features is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1019627.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bowl barrow 700m north of Betton Farm (6.9 km), Round barrow at North Moor, 120m south east of Forest Lodge (7 km), Bowl barrow 800m north west of Moor House Farm (7.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of The Thieves' Dikes: prehistoric linear boundaries and associated features's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
The Thieves' Dikes: prehistoric linear boundaries and associated features stands on Corallian Group, bedrock that formed in the Oxfordian. The rock here is limestone, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.