Threshfield Henge 1 (northern)

Summary

Buried archaeological remains, confirmed by geophysical survey, of a Neolithic henge monument with a single entrance, this being on the south-south-east side. The henge, one of a pair which appear to be orientated to respect the adjacent River Wharfe, encloses an oval of pits interpreted as evidence of a timber circle.

Reasons for Designation

Threshfield Henge 1, the northern of a pair of Neolithic henge monuments, is included on the Schedule for the following principal reasons:

* Rarity: as a positively identified henge; a nationally rare site-type, and one of the few forms of monument that were constructed during the Neolithic period;

* Diversity of features: it includes a set of pits interpreted as the remains of a timber circle; a rarely identified feature sometimes found associated with henges;

* Potential: as demonstrated by the well-defined ditches and pits identified via geophysical surveying, showing that the henge will also retain important in-situ archaeological deposits;

* Group value: the close proximity with a second henge to the south, which appears to share the same alignment respecting the adjacent River Wharfe, adds to the importance of the monument.

History

Henges are ritual or ceremonial centres which date to the Late Neolithic period (2800-2000 BC) with some examples now thought to extend into the Early Bronze Age (up to around 1700 BC). They were constructed as roughly circular or oval-shaped enclosures comprising a flat area over 20m in diameter enclosed by a ditch and external bank. One, two or four entrances provided access to the interior of the monument, which may have contained a variety of features including timber or stone circles, post or stone alignments, pits, burials or central mounds. Finds from the ditches and interiors of henges provide important evidence for the chronological development of the sites, the types of activity that occurred within them and the nature of the environment in which they were constructed. Henges occur throughout England with the exception of south-eastern counties and the Welsh Marches. They are generally situated on low ground, often close to springs and water-courses. Henges are rare nationally with less than 80 known examples.

Threshfield Henge 1 was first identified by English Heritage’s Aerial Survey in 2006 as a parch mark. Lidar data released in 2012 led to the identification of a second henge centred around 120m to the south surviving as upstanding earthworks, Threshfield Henge 2 which is scheduled seperately (NHLE 1495552). These henges and the surrounding area were then geophysically surveyed in 2013 using laser-scanning, ground penetrating radar and magnetometry (Gibson, 2017). The geophysical surveying clearly identified Henge 1 along with what is interpreted as post holes for a timber circle within its interior. The surveys also identified various other potential archaeological remains in the wider area, mainly levelled, but including a low mound which may represent earthwork remains of a possible round barrow 310m to the south-east of Henge 1. The interpretation of these other features is currently uncertain and they are not included in the scheduling.

Although Henge 1 survives as a levelled archaeological site, it lies within a field that is called Castle Dykes Meadow, presumably so named when the henge retained upstanding earthworks.

Details

PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS: henge monument containing pits interpreted as evidence of a timber circle, all surviving as buried archaeological remains and deposits.

DESCRIPTION: Threshfield Henge 1 lies on a river terrace on the southern side of the Wharfe, the edge of the 15m scarp down to the river being nearly 200m to the north-east of the centre of the henge. The central axis of the henge, drawn through the entrance on the east-south-east side, is parallel with the general alignment of the river. Centred around 120m to the south is a second henge (see NHLE 1495552) surviving as earthworks which has a similar alignment.

Threshfield Henge 1 survives as buried archaeological deposits with no upstanding earthworks. Geophysical survey has shown that the inner ditch, a characteristic feature of henge monuments, averages 2m across and forms a slightly irregular circle with a flattened eastern sector, the magnetometry data suggesting areas of burnt deposits. This inner ditch encloses an area around 40m north-south and 35m east-west. There is a break in the ditch to the east-south-east, this forming a clear entrance causeway just over 4m wide to the inner part of the henge. The henge bank (which has been levelled, presumably by historic agricultural practice) was around 4-6m wide, its outer edge being defined by a narrow outer ditch averaging 0.4m across. This is identified as a foundation trench for a palisade or timber revetment for the henge’s bank. The south-eastern part of the circuit of this outer ditch lies beneath a drystone field wall, so it is not known how this outer ditch is formed in the area of the henge’s entrance.

The geophysical survey identified a number of infilled pits within the central platform of the henge and around its entrance. Eleven of these pits are laid out in an oval around 15m north-south by 12m east-west, occupying the south-western quadrant of the henge, appearing to face the entrance causeway. This is interpreted as the post holes for a timber circle.

EXTENT OF SCHEDULING: this is defined as a 68m diameter circle designed to enclose the full extent of the henge, including its outer ditch with an additional 5m margin for the support and protection of the monument. The drystone field walls that cut across the south-eastern side of this area is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included.

A second henge forms a separate scheduled monument (NHLE 1495552). A low mound sited 310m to the south-east, a potential prehistoric round barrow, along with a number of other potential archaeological features identified by the geophysical survey in the surrounding area are not included in the scheduling because their nature is currently uncertain.

Sources

Books and journals
Gibson, A, Survey and Excavation at the Henges of the Wharfe Valley, North Yorkshire, 2013–15 in Archaeological Journal, (2017), 1-55

End of official list entry

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