York Historic Environment Record

Part of monitoring works for a water pipe Elvington to Harton. This was the one site along the length of the pipeline corridor where detailed archaeological excavation took place. Cut features were visible for in excess of a hundred metres across the full width of the easement. The eastem half of the easement was fenced off so that contractors plant did not disturb what were clearly fragile deposits and salvage recording took place over the course of a few days in the strip outside the fenced area. The pipe sections were subsequently inserted into this narrower working width once this salvage work had taken place. Thereafter, once observation of the topsoil strip was completed elsewhere, it was possible to undertake excavation within the fenced off area, during which time the archaeological features present were fully excavated.
This site consisted of a complex of medium sized shallow U shaped ditches, covering much of the area within the pipeline corridor at the northem end of this field. The most important elements were two curvilinear ditches, each enclosing an area up to approximately 5.80 metres. There were also a number of other ditches and gullies in association with these major elements. The structural features found in association with these ditches consisted of two pits and a number of possible post holes. Superimposed over these ditches were the remains of later medieval rig and furrow.

It would appear from initial observations that two potential domestic enclosures or hut circles are in association with a number of linear ditches which may represent internal divisions within the settlement. In addition there was a major ditch at the southern extremity of the site which may represent its boundary on that side. Two deeply cut circular pits were also present. Environmental analysis of the fills of one these features showed limited evidence for aquatic deposition. These two features may therefore have functioned as shallow wells or water holes.


NMR Information:

Air photographs taken in 1997 (1a) show the excavation of a farmstead of probable Iron Age date. The excavation was undertaken by 'On Site Archaeology' on behalf of Yorkshire Water. (1-1b)

1a Oblique aerial photograph reference number NMR SE 6951/1-11
1b Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments Nick Pearson, On Site Archaeology: PERS COMM
1 RCHME/EH/HE Aerial Photographers comment RCHME Aerial Reconnaissance/23-JUN-1997

Related event: RCHME annual aerial reconnaissance. 1997-1998

On-Site Archaeology, 1997, Yorkshire Water Pipeline 2 Elvington - Harton (Unpublished document). SYO287.