In 2001 the West Yorkshire Archaeological Service did extensive geophysics of the site to see what evidence of archaeology remained in the interior of the hillfort, they comcluded:
"Much of the inner ward has been subject to varying degrees of landscaping or other forms of ground disturbance in the recent past. It seems unlikely that there any surviving archaeological remains in this part of the site. "
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Few hill forts of central Britain can rival Almondbury. It must have been a significant regional capital in it's day, commanding views for miles around, clearly showing where the boss lives.
Almondbury is one of Englands few vitrified hill forts, the suggestion that it was a result of spontaneous combustion makes it unique - only one other fort in France has had the same claim.
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"The hill-figure of the horse at Uffington may represent Epona (Celtic God), who not unreasonably might be considered to be the tutelary duvinity of the neighboring hillfort". Nora Chadwick, The Celts.
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Castle Steads is an interesting hillfort, It appears to guard a causeway that runs through it, so much so that there is an external fortified entrance, the other side of a ravine to the hillfort.
It would appear that the initial fort was significantly extended at some point by the building of a large dyke to the south.
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A damn good reason to visit a church! This mound is still very much visible and close to the road that links Kirklington to the A1. One the THE most accessible pieces of archaeology in the region, the barrow was excavated in the nineteeth century and the Beaker type pot was held (and is today) in the local (Kirklington) church. Also check out the Iron Age bead and do not miss the carved heads, both inside and outside the church.
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This Bronze Age round barrow was destroyed by quarrying in the fifties.
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The skeleton of a 25 year old male was found whilst quarrying in the seventies, the site is now destroyed. This was a crouched inhumation associated with a Beaker vessel.
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"A section of what could be a cursus monument appears on aerial photographs to the east of the Northern Henge. Surviving for a length of 240 metres and a width of 72 metres, the feature has a squared terminal immediately south-east of the Northern Double Pit Alignment. Geophysics undertaken by the VMNLP was inconclusive about the nature of this monument, but located a possible ring ditch (Harding J et al unpub. 1999b). The latter is not evident on any aerial photographs." Jan Harding/Newcastle University website (see link).
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This barrow has been completely destroyed by ploughing. It is associated with a double pit alignment which travels from its eastern side, roughly NNE to the eastern side of the Centre Hill barrow.
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This round barrow has been completely destroyed by quarrying with no records remaining.
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This barrow is now completely flat. It was dug out in the nineteenth century and in it was found an "ancient wooden coffin".
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"A large artificial mound here, apparently raised for defensive purposes, bears the name of Picts' Hill, and an improbable belief prevails that the Picts defeated the Romans in battle at a spot, not far off, called Roman Castle. This mound is also known as Money Hill, but, though partially cut away for the construction of the railway, the traditionary hidden treasure was not found."
Bulmer's History and Directory of North Yorkshire (1890)
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This is a new and previously forgotten discovery. It may link to the Thornborough Cursus, as it was rediscovered by extending the line of the cursus towards the river swale.
"There is a large artificial mound at Pickhill called Pict's Hill (or Money Hill), which now forms part of the railway embankment.
Mr Longstaffe gives the following particulars, for which, he says, he is indebted to his friend M. M. Milburm, Esq., land agent, Thirsk. Mother Shipton is said to have prophesied that Pickhill would never thrive till a certain family became extinct, and Picks or Money Hill was cut open. Some years ago an old man dreamed that there was an archway in the hill, beneath which was a black chest, with three locks, containing the money which gives the name to the mound. Well, the family did become extinct in 1850, and the Leeds and Thirsk railway Company cut the hill open in 1851 - though it naturally formed part of its embankment, and their line passes over it. Still the directors ordered it to be excavated - the old man, the dreamer, was still alive, and pointed out the spot where the archway lay. The hill was cut through in all directions, but nothing was found, save in the foss, where portions of tile and a small brick, both vitrified on one side, and fragments of urns, and a piece of thin iron, like the crest of a helmet, were discovered. The mound was squarish, 113 by 80 feet, and surrounded by a moat." Wellans History and Topogrphy of York and North Yorkshire. 1859.
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"There is another spring on the fell, called Diana's Well, which Mr Barker thinks may be regarded as a memorial of Roman Paganism" Wellans History and Topography of York and North Yorkshire 1851.
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This site is a little odd. It's an irregular circular enclosure which has bank and ditch and is on the small side for any use as a defence.
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"About two hundred yards east of the ancient village of Gayle (which is on the rivulet, half a mile distant from Hawes), are some traces of an ecampment, supposed to have been an outpost of the Roman Station at Bainbridge." Wellan's History and Topography of York and The North Riding 1851.
Wellan often called Iron age enclosures Roman, this is a so far unknown earthwork and is worth checking out.
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"On Aysgarth Moor, now enclosed, may be seen the remains of a circular encampment, supposed to be Danish" Wellin's History and Topography of York and the North Riding 1851.
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There are three Round Barrows here;
120m S of Low Barn - SE35487297
350m S of Low Barn - SE35437276
300m WNW of Low Barn - SE35197319
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150m E of Burtree Hill. SE35447433
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Located 350m SE of Blois Hall Farm.
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