Allen Archaeological Associates was called in to undertake the strip, map and sampling of a 1 hectare area in advance of the construction of an exploration well site and access road near Reighton in North Yorkshire.

It was known that the site lay in a landscape rich in archaeological remains dating from the Neolithic through to the Iron Age.

A group of pits that were dug near the southern boundary of the site were found to contain Neolithic pottery sherds (Mortlake and Fengate Wares), worked flint tools and burnt stones. Samples of the fills were sent for analysis, and these revealed the pits were filled with charred plant remains, including hazelnuts and crab apples. It is thought these pits may represent meetings between two groups for bartering and exchange purposes, with the artefacts within the pits symbolising the sealing of a bargain or an agreement, probably around 3500 - 3000 BC.

There then appeared to be a break in activity on the site until the Middle Bronze Age (around 1500 - 1000 BC). During this phase of activity several further pits were excavated, including a large pit that had contained a substantial post (see picture above). The posthole was very much isolated and unusual in that part way down in the backfill, pieces of freshly-broken pottery were placed in a semi-circular arrangement around the post. The post itself was never removed, finally rotting in-situ between the large white chalkstone and vertical scale in the photo. The size of the post and its isolation means it was probably some form of marker post or even a totem of some sort.

At some point during the Late Bronze Age (c.1000 - 700 BC) a very unusual small ring ditch with an internal diameter of c.3m was created. Initialy the ditch appeared to have been excavated as a single entity and then left open, weathering slightly and allowing some silting to occur. The western half then saw a layer of stones added and the eastern half was part-backfilled and recut as a gully, perhaps to form a wooden screen or partition. The open ditch on the western side was then backfilled with burnt material and pottery and animal bone. This unusual feature has been interpreted as a possible funerary monument, with the deceased placed within the internal circle. The western, open side, which contained material probably associated with feasting, had great views across valleys to the west and south. The eastern screen would have effectively blocked any viewing of the body to the east, and also accentuated the monument across the valleys to the west and south. The size of the monument suggests that it was constructed for an individual rather than used for a number of people within a community.

For the majority of the Iron Age the site appears to have remained abandoned, until at some time during the Late Iron Age the site was settled as part of a farmed landscape that extended well beyond the confines of the site.