The Vale of York NMP project covered 1,675 sq km of low lying land extending west to east between the Magnesian Limestone and the Yorkshire Wolds, and north to south from the Howardian Hills to the rivers Aire and Humber.
The survey was undertaken because intensive aerial reconnaissance over many years had shown the area to be rich in archaeology that was under threat both from deep ploughing and piecemeal development around villages.
The project provided data that greatly enhanced the National Monuments Record and local Historic Environment Records and has been used to inform planning decisions and further research.
Iron Age and Roman field systems
The landscape within the Vale has actively been used and farmed throughout prehistory to the present day. Extensive ditched field systems and settlements, dating to the late Iron Age and Roman periods, were revealed as cropmarks. These were recorded along with some rare earthwork survivals of enclosures on Allerthorpe and Skipwith Commons.
Roman military sites and road network
The results of the project mapping and analysis enabled a review of the evidence for Roman military forts and camps and the infrastructure of roads and roadside settlements that converge on the important Roman town of York.
Post medieval rabbit farming
An unusual and relatively rare cruciform earthwork structure was discovered on low lying ground at Wheldrake Ings. Its function is uncertain, but the favoured interpretation is a pillow mound, associated with rabbit farming in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The images used on this page are copyright English Heritage unless specified otherwise. For further details of any photographs or other images and for copies of these, or the plans and reports related to the project please contact the English Heritage Archive.
For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us by email via the link above.
