Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 64883
Hob Uid: 64883
Location : North Yorkshire Ryedale Heslerton
Grid Ref : SE9170076300
Summary : A multiperiod funerary and settlement site. A 5th century Saxon cemetery on site of Iron Age and Bronze Age barrows, and Neolithic enclosure. The burial rites of the Saxon cemetery has been extensively studied by Lucy (1998). The Saxon cemetery had 5 main concentrations of burials, implying it was polyfocal, which probably reflected the then extant visibility of the prehistoric monuments. Lucy concluded that the localised similarities of deposition, as well as general patterns, point to strong `codes' of burial practice determining who was buried where, and in what way. Excavations also uncovered 4th century Roman buildings, interpreted as a possible shrine.
More information : Centred SE 917 763. A multi-period site at Heslerton was excavated under the direction of D. Powlesland as part of the Heslerton Parish Project between 1978 and 1982 with further excavations from 1987. Plan 1. (1) The 1978-82 excavations revealed evidence of a late Mesolithic flint-knapping site which was also used during the Neolithic and early Bronze Age. During the late Neolithic period a series of gullies may represent an attempted field system, with two pairs of refuse pits possibly indicating domestic activity. An ill-defined avenue of very large post pits running across part of the site also belongs to this period. The palisaded enclosure (at SE 920 766) may also be late Neolithic. Plans 2 (1) and 3 (3) The early Bronze Age was represented by two barrow cemeteries and in the later Bronze Age/early Iron Age the central part of the site became the setting for extensive occupation dispensed along the line of a major boundary. During the Roman period much of the area was converted to agriculture but in the early Anglo-Saxon period a large cemetery and associated settlement was established with traces of timber framed buildings and grubenhauser. Full excavation report. Plan 4. (1)Excavations resumed in 1987 and completed the plan of the Anglo-Saxon features. (1-3) Additional bibliography. (4-11) Excavations also uncovered 4th century Roman buildings, interpreted as a possible shrine. (12)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details :
Page(s) : 53-173
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Vol(s) : 143

Source Number : 2
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Source details : "Heslerton Parish Project - The First Report" (D Powlesland)
Page(s) : 53-173
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Vol(s) : 143, 1986

Source Number : 11
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Source details :
Page(s) : 52-6,71
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Vol(s) : 272

Source Number : 12
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Source details : Pers com: Dr P Wilson, English Heritage, 30.5.2000.
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Source Number : 13
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Source details : West Heslerton: The Anglian Cemetery. The Excavation and Discussion of the Evidence
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Vol(s) : 1, 1999

Source Number : 14
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Source details : West Heslerton: The Anglian Cemetery. Catalogue of Anglian Graves and associated Assemblages
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Vol(s) : 2, 1999

Source Number : 3
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : D Jones
Page(s) : 180, 183
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Vol(s) : 52, 1980

Source Number : 5
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Source details : D Jones
Page(s) : 138
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Vol(s) : 53, 1981

Source Number : 6
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Source details : P Turnbull
Page(s) : 170-1
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Vol(s) : 54, 1982

Source Number : 7
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Source details : D Powlesland
Page(s) : 355
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Vol(s) : 46, 1980

Source Number : 8
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Source details : D Powlesland
Page(s) : 400-1
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Vol(s) : 49, 1983

Source Number : 9
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Source details :
Page(s) : 178
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Vol(s) : 25, 1981

Source Number : 10
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Source details :
Page(s) : 190
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Vol(s) : 261

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Mesolithic
Display Date : Mesolithic
Monument End Date : -4000
Monument Start Date : -10000
Monument Type : Lithic Working Site
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Late Neolithic
Display Date : Late Neolithic
Monument End Date : -2200
Monument Start Date : -2900
Monument Type : Palisaded Enclosure
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Bronze Age
Display Date : Bronze Age
Monument End Date : -700
Monument Start Date : -2600
Monument Type : Barrow Cemetery
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Iron Age
Display Date : Iron Age
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -800
Monument Type : Settlement
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : C4
Monument End Date : 399
Monument Start Date : 300
Monument Type : Building, Shrine
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Conjectural Evidence

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Late C5-mid C7
Monument End Date : 666
Monument Start Date : 467
Monument Type : Inhumation Cemetery, Settlement, Grubenhaus
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SE 97 NW 27
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1977-01-01
End Date : 1978-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1978-01-01
End Date : 1990-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1986-01-01
End Date : 1986-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1987-01-01
End Date : 1987-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1990-01-01
End Date : 1991-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1991-01-01
End Date : 1991-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 64883