Danes Dyke
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Danes Dyke,
Flamborough Head,
Flamborough,
East Yorkshire
YO15 1AG
Danes’ Dyke consists of prehistoric earthworks, possibly intended as a defence, and woodland that runs 2½ miles across Flamborough Head. Despite its name, Danes’ Dyke had nothing to do with the Danes, and was a much earlier site - probably dating back to the Bronze Age. Indeed the site was excavated by Major-General Augustus Pitt-Rivers in 1879 and Bronze Age arrowheads were found. Today, the area attracts many resident breeding and wintering birds, and is an excellent site for bird watchers at migration times.
The earthwork acts as a western boundary, isolating almost 13km2 of headland, which is otherwise defined by high, vertical chalk cliffs, except for the two small coves of North Landing and South Landing. It effectively cuts off the peninsula,turning it into a fortified area, which would have contained all the resources needed to support a sizeable population
