Alluviation in the Vale of York

Introducing the Vale of York Project
A major programme of research into the archaeology of the Vale of York (North Yorkshire, UK), involving a partnership between York Archaeological Trust and the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology of the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is underway. The research is being commissioned by English Heritage, who have allocated resources from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) to the project.

More About Our Work
In the pages below you can read about the landscape and archaeology of the Vale of York, about our on-going research and opportunities to hear more and become involved:

The Vale of York Project
English Heritage funds have allowed an initial year-long assessment of the archaeology and landscape of the Vale of York.

The geological background to the Vale of York
The landscape of the Vale of York has been shaped by glaciers and lakes over the past 10000 years.

Holocene landscape change
Environmental change, rivers and people have dramatically altered the landscape of the Vale of York since the end of the last ice age.

Archaeology in the Vale of York
The varied past settlement patterns in the Vale of York are strongly related to its geology and soils – is this a reflection of peoples' choices about where to live or a result of variations in the present visibility of archaeological remains?

Flooding in York
In winter 2000 York experienced its worst flood since records began. Archaeological evidence suggests that York has always experienced flooding and that its inhabitants have long struggled to control the waters of the Rivers Ouse and Foss.

Research Methods
The Vale of York project has worked to draw together the extensive, but widely dispersed evidence for the archaeology of the Vale as well as to explore new and innovative research tools such as LiDAR and remotely sensed imagery.