Wetlands Exposed with Mesolithic and Late Prehistoric Remains Discovered

Posted on by James Danter
Our team have been investigating the numerous archaeological features which have been revealed, such as this circular pit on the edge of an ancient wetland.
Our team have been investigating the numerous archaeological features which have been revealed, such as this circular pit on the edge of an ancient wetland.
One of the Late Glacial and Early Holocene peat-filled ponds which are present on site.
One of the Late Glacial and Early Holocene peat-filled ponds which are present on site.
An Early Mesolithic broad blade flint microlith picked up by one of our team on the edge of one of the ancient wetlands.
An Early Mesolithic broad blade flint microlith picked up by one of our team on the edge of one of the ancient wetlands.

Back in 2017, ARS Ltd. conducted one of the first deliberate archaeological excavations of a kettle hole in Britain at Tarmac’s Killerby Quarry in North Yorkshire. During the course of the 2017 excavation we unearthed the remains of a timber-built platform which we radiocarbon dated to the Late Mesolithic c.5500 BC.

This year, we are back and in the midst of an excavation extending over around a dozen hectares and 12,500 years of human history. Following on from the results of the 2017 excavation we have been targeting wetland areas which are revealing further evidence of Mesolithic activity around the periphery of several large peat-filled ponds.

A large pit which was filled with organic material including charred twigs from oak and ash trees.
A large pit which was filled with organic material including charred twigs from oak and ash trees.
A view of the site with one of the wetland areas surrounded by orange fencing in the foreground and our team excavating to the left of the white van. Can you spot the two enclosures in the top left of the photo?
A view of the site with one of the wetland areas surrounded by orange fencing in the foreground and our team excavating to the left of the white van. Can you spot the two enclosures in the top left of the photo?

Across site, numerous large pits have been revealed. A number of these seemingly innocuous features have contained the remains of organic material, including charred twigs, which have the potential to accurate radiocarbon dates as well as how the landscape looked in the past.

The archaeology is not just limited to early prehistory. So far on site we have also uncovered the remains of five late prehistoric/Romano-British enclosures which may have been used for livestock management as part of rural farmsteads.

Stick with us as we bring you regular updates on one of our most exciting projects to date!

Menu
Archaeological Research Services Ltd