York Historic Environment Record

York Archaeological Trust undertook the excavation of a 3.4ha block of development land at Monks Cross (Huntington South Moor), York, between March and June of 2003. Parts of a prehistoric landscape that included at least one Neolithic pit and a curvilinear ditch (possibly for an enclosure) were revealed in the south-eastern part of the site. To the north of this part of a major landscape boundary, a pit alignment of probable Bronze Age or Iron Age origin, was examined. Later re-defined by a broad shallow cut, this boundary remained visible until at least the 2nd century AD. A cluster of pits and small post-holes together with two small ring-gullies - probably hay stack or hay rick gullies may also be of prehistoric date, though were located within the limits of a Roman camp. Substantial parts of an early-mid 2nd century AD Roman camp, Camp 1, were surveyed and excavated. The camp proved to have been marked out with considerable geometric accuracy to precise measurements (in Roman feet), though the encompassing ditch had been cut with less precision and finesse. Evidence was found to indicate that this camp was short-lived and was subsequently slighted with parts of the rampart being backfilled into the ditch. It is proposed that this camp was of a temporary nature and not created as a practice work. With a greater degree of speculation, it is suggested that the military and historical context for the camp may be one in which troops and supplies were mustered around the legionary fortress at York prior to campaigning in the north in the reign of Hadrian. An adjacent Roman camp, Camp 2, together with other examples at Bootham Stray, may have had the same purpose. NMR Information: Excavation revealed parts of a prehistoric landscape, including at least one Neolithic pit, a curvilinear ditch, a probable Bronze Age pit alignment, a cluster of pits and small post holes and two small ring gullies. Substantial parts of an early-mid 2nd century Roman camp were excavated and surveyed.