Vale of York NMP

The Vale of York Project was undertaken by English Heritage Aerial Survey as part of the National Mapping Programme (NMP). As with all NMP projects all archaeological features visible on air photographs as earthworks or cropmarks were recorded and mapped.
The survey area is bounded by completed NMP projects and provides a unique opportunity to compare the archaeology of these diverse landscapes in northern England.

North-east of Skipwith village, the sandy-gley soils are particularly responsive to cropmark formation and examination of aerial photographs taken over a number of years reveal a multi-phase complex of Iron Age/ Roman settlements and field systems.

The map to the left shows the cropmarks plotted against the first edition Ordnance Survey background, illustrating the complex nature of the archaeological landscape around Skipwith Common.

Photography of all dates is examined and sometimes sites photographed some time ago are seen in a new light. This site (above right) was first identified in flood conditions in March 1999. Similarities in plan with sites visible as cropmarks suggest this may be a rare earthwork survival of Roman remains, but other explanations also need investigation.

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 NMR English Heritage's public archive.

For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us at: AerialSurvey@english-heritage.org.uk.