PREHISTORIC YORK

Aerial photograph showing circular prehistoric features at Easingwold, the earliest of which was late Iron Age (1st century BC/1st century AD); the linear features are more modern land drains

Aerial photography suggests that the Vale of York was intensively occupied in late prehistoric times. Trust excavations at several sites have revealed scattered prehistoric artefacts and features, but our recent discovery at Easingwold (north of York) of a village or hamlet dating to the 1st century BC is of particular importance. Here we discovered evidence of boundary ditches, round huts and animal pens. There was debris from iron working on the site and we also found considerable quantities of simple hand-made pottery. Since then we have discovered an even older Iron Age settlement at Rawcliffe Moor, just outside York. We hope to find a great deal more as the city spreads into its surrounding area.

Hand-made pot from Rawcliffe Moor, near York

Flint blades, scrapers and a polished stone axe