York Historic Environment Record

Four inter-connected, sub-rectangular enclosures
measuring approximately 40–50m in length
x 30m wide were observed. They were organised in a semicircular,
crescent shaped formation, with the
long axis generally aligned east-west. On at
least two of the enclosures the western (short)
return is missing, effectively making them
three sided. Given the curving arrangement
of the enclosures and the potential offshoot
boundary ditch located in Trench 7, the
possibility exists that the settlement formerly
extended to the east, beyond the current site,
where a modern housing estate now exists.
The excavation work confirmed what the
suggestions of the geophysics plot - that the
outer ditches of the rectangular enclosures
were considerably wider and deeper than
the ditches associated with the smaller
internal features. This may normally indicate a
defensive function, however given the open
nature of the features on the ‘outside’ edge of
the arrangement and the potential evidence
for an external bank, this may not be the case.
The smaller enclosures, were uniformly
sited at the centre of the larger feature, and
measured approximately 20m across. There
was no dating evidence, and there was no
obvious signs of a central hearth or post holes.
This, coupled with their size, may exclude a
structural interpretation of these features –
unless plough truncation has played a role in
removing shallower remains.