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SURVEY AND SAMPLING AT THE CASTLE DYKES IRON AGE ‘HENGE’, WENSLEYDALE, NORTH YORKSHIRE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2019

Alex Gibson
Affiliation:
15 Alexandra Crescent, Ilkley, West Yorkshire LS29 9ER, UK. Email: alexgibsonarchaeol@outlook.com
Wolfgang Neubauer
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, University of Vienna, Hohe Warte 38, A-1190 Vienna, Austria. Email: administration@archpro.lbg.ac.at
Sebastian Flöry
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, University of Vienna, Hohe Warte 38, A-1190 Vienna, Austria. Email: administration@archpro.lbg.ac.at
Petra Schneidhofer
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, University of Vienna, Hohe Warte 38, A-1190 Vienna, Austria. Email: administration@archpro.lbg.ac.at
Mike Allen
Affiliation:
Allen Environmental Archaeology, Redroof, Green Road, Codford, Wiltshire BA12 0NW, UK. Email: aea.escargots@gmail.co.uk
Enid Allison
Affiliation:
Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 92A Broad Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2LU, UK. Email: enid.allison@canterburytrust.co.uk
Wendy Carruthers
Affiliation:
Sawmills House, Castellau, Llantrisant, Mid Glamorgan CF72 8LQ, UK. Email: wendycarruthers@jenner8.orangehome.co.uk
Dana Challinor
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, 36 Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2PG, UK. Email: dana.challinor@tiscali.co.uk
Charles French
Affiliation:
McBurney Laboratory, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, CB2 3DZ, UK. Email: caif2@cam.ac.uk
Garry Rushworth
Affiliation:
Butts Farm, Thurstonland, West Yorkshire HD4 6XG, UK. Email: garryrushworth2@gmail.com
Alison Sheridan
Affiliation:
Principal Curator of Early Prehistory, National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, UK. Email: a.sheridan@nms.ac.uk

Abstract

Survey and sampling at the classic single-entranced henge monument at Castle Dykes, in North Yorkshire, has revealed traces of circular timber structures, interpreted as later prehistoric roundhouses, in the immediate vicinity and within the henge. Coring of the waterlogged silts of the internal ditch has produced considerable environmental data: plant, insect, pollen and charcoal remains. A small jet bead was also recovered. Radiocarbon dates from short-lived materials unexpectedly indicate that the monument was constructed in the Iron Age, which prompts a review of other potentially Iron Age ‘henges’ further afield.

Type
Research paper
Copyright
© The Society of Antiquaries of London, 2019 

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