The Bedale enclosure, roughly square and spanning 50m in width, belongs to a recognised settlement pattern from the Iron Age and early Roman period seen throughout the region. Radiocarbon dating of bone fragments found in soil deposits from the earliest ditch cutting indicates it existed as early as the 5th century BC. A substantial ditch, up to 3m wide and nearly 2m deep in some places, was dug into the natural clay ground. The excavated soil was piled inside the enclosure, creating a bank probably well over 1m high. Consequently, the total height from the bank’s top to the ditch’s bottom reached over 3m, forming a formidable obstacle to anyone attempting to enter. This design also served to contain animals safely. The enclosure ditch was not continuous; a narrow gap on the east side allowed access to the interior.
Some internal features within the Bedale enclosure had been removed by later agricultural activity (such as ploughing), which had scoured the top of the higher ground in that area. However, a similar-sized enclosure was found at Selgarth Farm, approximately 17 km northwest of Bedale. Like Bedale, it was situated on slightly elevated land near a watercourse. Inside the Selgarth Farm enclosure, remnants of an Iron Age roundhouse were discovered, including a drip gully and a circular ditch measuring 9.5m in diameter which marked the line of the house wall.
Enclosures of a similar size, around 0.25 hectares, are also known in nearby areas such as Scotch Corner, Rock Castle, Melsonby, and Stanwick. Studies of these settlements suggest that most enclosures of this type are larger, typically encompassing 0.3 to 0.5 hectares. The smaller enclosures like Bedale might represent a local variation used by smaller communities, possibly accommodating fewer animals.
The Bedale enclosure remained in some form of use for over 500 years, extending into the Roman period. However, the original ditch would not have survived, and numerous cleaning episodes were identified, with at least four major attempts to redefine the enclosure’s boundaries. The settlement’s enduring existence, without noticeable expansion, suggests a stable population size. This raises questions about possible intermittent or seasonal use, perhaps with a specific number of inhabitants. Its location, near the streams and floodplains, hints at its purpose, potentially serving as a site for winter grazing of small herds brought from elsewhere, like the Pennines to the west. While the discovered routeway at Bedale dates to the Roman period, an earlier route probably served as a droveway for these herds. Notably, the Selgarth Farm enclosure also lay alongside a ditched routeway dating back to the 5th century BC.
Efforts were made during the 3rd century BC to enhance the enclosure’s defensive features. The ditch was re-excavated with a steep V-shaped profile, extending across the entrance to create an unbroken defensive circuit. The bank appears to have been fortified with stones; once the threat subsided and the enclosure’s defenses were neglected, stones tumbled into the ditch from the interior. These stones would have reinforced the revetment’s face, potentially forming an upright ‘wall’ with the bank behind it, creating a steeper and more formidable obstacle. This suggests conflict during the middle Iron Age, although the identity of the adversaries and the duration of the conflict remain unknown.
The ditch contained a wide range of discarded items, especially on the north side, including both indigenous and Roman objects. Indigenous items, crafted by the Iron Age population before and after the Roman invasion, included various bone tools likely used in crafts and weaving combs, indicating textile work. Some Roman objects hinted at contact with the Roman Empire, possibly including interactions with soldiers. These objects included small fittings from Roman armor, likely brought to the site for recycling, iron hobnails suggesting Roman footwear usage, and a bronze finger-ring indicating the wearing of Roman jewelry.
Additionally, there was evidence of bone and antler working, as well as copper-alloy metalworking in the later phases of occupation within the enclosure. The nature of the contact between the inhabitants and Roman culture is complex, given that this activity occurred within the enclosure. Some of the Roman metal objects may have arrived at the site as scrap, destined for recycling and reworking into the products crafted by the metalworkers here, rather than being personal items used, lost, or discarded near the enclosure.
Further evidence from the enclosure sheds light on the lives of local residents during the late Iron Age and the time of the Roman invasion – two skeletons interred in shallow graves within the enclosure’s ditch. The first burial, on the northern side of the enclosure, was of a middle-aged man in a crouched position with large stones placed near his head. This individual probably led a physically demanding life, with occasional injuries or illnesses, including a broken forearm likely caused by a fall. Radiocarbon dating places his death between 166 BC and AD 3, aligning him with the pre-Roman inhabitants of the area. The second burial, on the south side of the enclosure ditch, involves a relatively young individual, possibly a young adult or an adolescent, making gender determination inconclusive. Analysis of their bones and teeth indicates a history of disease or malnutrition during childhood. Radiocarbon dating situates their death between 42 BC and AD 70, coinciding with the period of conflict with Rome. Notably, the second burial includes the placement of the feet upon a large stone, suggesting both burials were conducted with care and respect. Subsequently, the open ditches were repurposed for waste disposal, probably after the memory of these burials had faded, and the waste was deposited on what were then unmarked graves.
The image that emerges is of a small artisanal community actively involved in craft manufacturing; working bone, antler and metal as well as making textiles. Within this settlement, cattle were slaughtered, and the substantial quantities suggest that a portion of the meat was processed and distributed elsewhere for consumption. Additionally, there is a possibility that horses were raised on this site. It is likely that the inhabitants were indigenous to the area, sustaining themselves by meeting the demands and necessities of others.
