Internet Archaeology 5. West Heslerton Assessment. 3.4

3.4 The Sequence

The process of phasing the site is far more complex than we are used to on sites where extensive dated typologies and accurately dateable material can be employed. The process of assigning phases to the structures, boundary features and, no less import ant, the spaces between these features, will be a product of the analysis rather than a pre-condition, drawing upon the work of many specialists and using multivariate and spatial analysis rather than an established dated material type series. This analys is, however, will provide a basic framework for comparative research and a series of testable models of early Anglo-Saxon settlement for discussion and refinement in the future.

The lack of clearly dateable material is a feature of all Early Anglo-Saxon sites. The situation is difficult in cemeteries where date sequences have to be defined within generalised parameters. On settlement sites the comparative infrequency of metalw ork, which can at least be approximately dated, is such that we need to be particularly careful when assigning features to one phase or another. It should, however, be kept in mind that the total duration of the Early Anglo-Saxon phase at West Heslerton i s likely to fall within a 200 year period. The Roman material can, of course, be relatively closely dated and by the Middle Saxon period the introduction of coinage gives us some opportunity to provide a framework of absolute dates. It is perhaps unfortun ate that the single dendrochronological date (autumn AD 724), from the well adjacent to the spring at the southern end of the site, dates to the latest phase of activity, in the Middle Saxon period. Further wells, however, are likely to remain in the curr ently unexcavated southern core of the site. Amongst the artefact assemblage are a number of items which can be placed in the earlier half of the Anglian phase and it is of the utmost importance that the distribution of this material, particularly fragmen ts of glass vessels and a small number of brooches, has a widespread distribution across the site.