Murton High Crags settlement (Ord)
NT963495 An enclosure was revealed by crop mark on air photographs west of the circular crop mark at NT 96554958 (NT 94 NE 12). It is partially in a pasture field and partly on rough ground. (1)
Nothing visible on RAF air photographs. (2)
NT 963496: Cropmarks of a multiphase hillfort at Murton Crags were excavated in the summer and autumn of 1979. A 0.25ha area was stripped on the west side of the site covering a 35m wide stretch of the defences and a representative area of the interior. The hillfort defences consisted of two concentric lines of palisades encircling the hill top. These were succeeded by several rampart phases associated with two shallow ditches. Immediately inside the perimeter was a complex of post holes. Overlying this was a paved area followed by three superimposed round houses the latest possibly being Romano-British. The entrance to the hillfort appears to have been destroyed by a 19th century quarry. A ring groove for a timber house was found outside the perimeter of the hillfort and this appears to be the oldest structure on the site. (3)
Additional bibliography. (4)
NT 963494. Murton Crags unenclosed settlement. (5)
Third season of excavation, intention to expose section of perimeter and investigate area immediately inside. Concentric palisade lines were uncovered, rock-cut. Outer trench smaller. Further palisade line discovered outside the outer concentric line, though on a different alignment.
Three possible ring-groove houses found within perimeter. Massive flagstone pavement remains found in places. Romano-British coarse pottery and some 4th century pottery found. (6)
Summary of excavations at Murton High Crags in 1980. (7)
Scheduled. (8)
NT 963 495. Murton High Crags settlements. Scheduled No ND/590. (9a)
Nothing visible on RAF air photographs. (2)
NT 963496: Cropmarks of a multiphase hillfort at Murton Crags were excavated in the summer and autumn of 1979. A 0.25ha area was stripped on the west side of the site covering a 35m wide stretch of the defences and a representative area of the interior. The hillfort defences consisted of two concentric lines of palisades encircling the hill top. These were succeeded by several rampart phases associated with two shallow ditches. Immediately inside the perimeter was a complex of post holes. Overlying this was a paved area followed by three superimposed round houses the latest possibly being Romano-British. The entrance to the hillfort appears to have been destroyed by a 19th century quarry. A ring groove for a timber house was found outside the perimeter of the hillfort and this appears to be the oldest structure on the site. (3)
Additional bibliography. (4)
NT 963494. Murton Crags unenclosed settlement. (5)
Third season of excavation, intention to expose section of perimeter and investigate area immediately inside. Concentric palisade lines were uncovered, rock-cut. Outer trench smaller. Further palisade line discovered outside the outer concentric line, though on a different alignment.
Three possible ring-groove houses found within perimeter. Massive flagstone pavement remains found in places. Romano-British coarse pottery and some 4th century pottery found. (6)
Summary of excavations at Murton High Crags in 1980. (7)
Scheduled. (8)
NT 963 495. Murton High Crags settlements. Scheduled No ND/590. (9a)
N2290
EXCAVATION, [excavations at] Murton High Crags 1983; Archaeological Unit for North East England
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