Yorkshire Archaeol J 66

Fieldwork and excavation at Nab Water, from the early 1930s to 1974, has demonstrated the existence of a small, but regionally important, earlier Mesolithic site on the eastern edge of the Pennine uplands of West Yorkshire. It was probably occupied during the summer and autumn months and served as a base/hunting camp for a small community whose economy was based on the exploitation of food plants and animal resources of the heathlands and woodlands of the region. Its associated flint industry is comparable to those excavated on other sites in the central Pennines and North Yorkshire, a number of which have been radiocarbon dated to the eighth millennium bc.

Continuing fieldwork at the site (see also 91/624 & 93/1171) produces more evidence for the nature of occupation, which may be confirmed by future excavation. Possible evidence of high status (good quality non-ferrous material), artisan activity (iron tools), and now cereal farming (AS scythe) are attested. The new finds themselves are detailed in: simple pins; copper alloy strap ends; miscellaneous copper alloy items including a bell, scutcheon and Trewhiddle-style ring; a gold bead and the scythe.

Yorkshire parish churches have an unequalled series of twelfth-century doorways that have been neglected by researchers. Close examination of some thirty doorways with figurative sculpture provides evidence of the organisation of their making, which roughly speaking changed from direction by religious designers in the first half of the century to composition by freelance travelling artisans in the 1160s. The subjects shown are basically those met with in French Romanesque sculpture, with local additions.

Final publication for the site of a medieval building complex, dug in 1957/58 and 1968/69 by T C M Brewster (now deceased). The topography, geology, and historical sources are outlined prior to details of the first excavations. These, undertaken in 1957/58, isolated three main phases associated with pre-stone building, stone building, and abandonment of stone buildings activity. Nine stone buildings were located in all, associated with local pottery including Staxton wares and Humberwares which provided the main dating evidence -- ranging from early to post-medieval. Later excavations investigated an earthwork mound to the north of the original dig. Three further buildings were located, although their functions as possible garderobes or external staircases can only be guessed. The finds assemblage is detailed, including a little iron, glass bead, roof tile, stone (including chalk which was the main building stone), worked bone artefacts, fish bones and `The animal bone' by C M Rushe, H Smith & P Halstead (143-6). The reasonably extensive pottery assemblage is also detailed, including some IA and RB, Early--Late-Saxon wares and the main body of medieval data. These excavations apparently only touched on c 20% of the complex as a whole, and housing development would seem to preclude any further investigations.

Describes a relatively small flint tranchet axe, a surface find from Sands Wood Field. Tranchet axes are thought, when in context, to be a reliable indicator of Mesolithic occupation. In this case, it is ventured that even as surface finds they nevertheless provide reasonably sound evidence when exhibiting a significantly greater degree of patination than the usual post-Mesolithic flintwork from the same locale.

Reports what is known of a hoard deposited in 1643-44, re-discovered in 1850, which disappeared thereafter and since known of and traced via documentary sources from the nineteenth century. Working with these, fifty-four coins have been relocated or identified, and are listed here.

Announces the commissioning of this survey by EH, which will include Holderness, the Humberhead levels, lower Trent Valley, Ancholme Valley, southern Vale of York, Hull Valley and the Lincolnshire marsh. Extensive survey, transect coring, and palaeoenvironmental study will be undertaken.

Tribute to a pioneer of aerial photography who wrote extensively on the subject as well as instigating an MA in aerial photography at Sheffield.