Prehistoric Field System in West Yorkshire

Yorkshire house-builder, Broadacre Homes, unearthed a piece of ancient history when they prepared the ground for their latest development off Pontefract Road in Ferrybridge, where archaeologists are now examining a field system thought to date back to the Iron Age or Romano-British period.

Located a few feet below an area where Broadacre are planning to build a row of mews homes, the discovery is being regarded as an extension of the famous Ferrybridge Henge, the premier early-prehistoric ceremonial monument in West Yorkshire. The focus of a ritual landscape during the Neolithic period, Ferrybridge Henge is a site of national importance and its environmental remains have helped to build up a picture of the local ecology almost 4,000 years ago. The latest fieldwork off Pontefract Road is now being carried out by experts from AOC Archaeology Group, one of Britain's leading archaeological and heritage management service providers.

“This is a very useful discovery as it paints a broader picture of an area which is already renowned for its historical significance,” said Jason Mole of AOC Archaeology Group. “The field system and drainage were built over 2,000 years ago.”

“We were fascinated to learn about the history beneath the land we acquired,” said Chris Duckworth, director at Broadacre Homes. “When Jason and his team have finished their work we will begin construction and when the development is complete we will look to incorporate a suitable monument which recognises the site’s ancient past.”

AOC Excavation Director: Jason Mole
Client: Broadacre Homes