A Late Iron Age and Romano-British Settlement at Black Plantation, Richmond, North Yorkshire. Survey Report
Author(s): Mitchell Pollington, Marcus Jecock
In January 2005, English Heritage undertook an archaeological investigation and analytical field survey of part of Black Plantation, near Richmond, North Yorkshire. The archaeological evidence from Black Plantation indicates the existence of a Late Iron Age and Romano-British settlement, with earlier timber structures giving way to a later phase of stone built houses. The timber houses were constructed on platforms cut into the natural slope of the land. There is evidence that the settlement operated a mixed economy; largely pastoral but including areas of arable cultivation. A number of fields were identified, defined by curvilinear banks and their surfaces characterised by a lack of surface stone suggesting that these areas had been cleared to allow for arable cultivation. The presence of a number of small enclosures and pens attest to the management of animals. The survival of the archaeological features on the site can be explained by the later use of the landscape. Until the mid-18th century the area on which Black Plantation now sits was the open common pasture of Aske Common. This had probably remained unimproved and unenclosed pasture since the end of the Romano-British period, which would have caused little threat to the archaeological remains. (This was report 5/2005 in a previous series)
- Report Number:
- 72/2005
- Series:
- Other
- Pages:
- 29
