Excavation Report for 2014

Read all about the finds we made during the 2014 archaeology season. We excavated 41 test pits in gardens and school grounds during the year.

Download the report (You will need the free Adobe Reader to view).

The excavation of a series of test pits across St Helen’s Ward during 2014 has revealed evidence of settlement from the early Medieval right through until the Modern periods. In 2014, test pits were selected to target known archaeological sites such as the water and paper mills at Smithies, abandoned cottages also at Smithies, and a farmstead off Laithes Lane, Athersley North. Our test pits were able to be dated from the recovery and specialist assessment of the pottery, clay pipes, glass, animal bones, metalwork and industrial residues (iron and glass slags). A myriad of finds were revealed the earliest was the rim of a jar or cooking vessel (mid C11th- mid C13th), a commemorative glazed plate to large granite millstones which dated to the 19th century.