York Historic Environment Record

A geophysical (magnetometer) survey, covering approximately 93 hectares, was carried out on agricultural land on the south-western periphery of York, to support its promotion for residential and mixed use development. Overall, the results indicate that the site has a low potential for significant archaeology as most of the site is situated on low lying ground adjacent to an area of wetland (Askham Bogs). Here most of the anomalies are due to fairly recent agricultural or modern activity. One field on the eastern edge of the site has been infilled and landscaped following clay extraction and clearly has no archaeological potential. However, one area of clear archaeological potential has been identified on higher ground towards the northern end of the site. Here a cluster of, albeit weak and fragmented, anomalies are interpreted as soil-filled ditches comprising enclosures of likely prehistoric or Romano-British date. Features within the enclosures, including at least one roundhouse, indicate settlement activity. A smaller cluster of linear and discrete anomalies located to the south-western corner of the site may also have some archaeological potential, although this interpretation is much more tentative. In addition, geological anomalies around the southern site boundary close to Askham Bog could locate natural features with the potential for the presence of waterlogged deposits of palaeo-environmental interest.