Experts are hoping to set up a community team to help investigate ancient rock carvings.

The ‘CSI: Rombalds Moor’ project will look at the moor’s stone remains including the Twelve Apostles Stone Circle, the Swastika Stone and the cup-and-ring carvings known to archaeologists worldwide and the many walkers who visit the area each year.

But now the experts want to train a group of volunteers to take part in crucial work in recording vital information about the ancient sites.

The project is managed by rural regeneration enterprise Pennine Prospects. It is part of a wider Watershed Landscape scheme, which won almost £2million of lottery funding earlier this year to restore the landscape of the South Pennines uplands Next month the CSI: Rombalds Moor project will be launched in Ilkley, with workshops by experts and a guided walk to the archaeological sites.

Among the speakers on Saturday, November 6, will be community archaeologist Gavin Edwards who is known to many Ilkley people for his work at the town’s Manor House Museum and Art Gallery, and English Heritage’s head of metric survey Paul Bryan.

A team of consultants has been selected to lead the prehistoric carved-rocks project on the moor. In addition to making written records, it will involve photographing the rocks to create 3D images through the ‘photogrammetry’ process. The workshop will give more local people a chance to learn about the project and register their interest.

A spokesman for Pennine Prospects said: “Over the coming months a series of training sessions covering surveying, recording and photographic techniques will be organised for community volunteers to learn how best they can help undertake the work over the next three years.

“The project will also aim to ensure that the skills and knowledge gained during this time will then allow the work to continue and develop after the project has come to an end.”

The project launch and workshop will take place at Church House, next to All Saints Parish Church, in Church Street. The event will be open for registration and refreshments between 9am and 9.45am.

Anyone interested in taking part is asked to contact Gavin Edwards in advance at gavin.edwards@pennineprospects.co.uk, leave a message at the Manor House Museum, Castle Yard, Ilkley, or telephone (01943) 600066.