Tim Sutherland | University of York (original) (raw)

Papers by Tim Sutherland

On an external wall, above a former front entrance of Towton Hall, Towton, near Tadcaster, Yorksh... more On an external wall, above a former front entrance of Towton Hall, Towton, near Tadcaster, Yorkshire, England, there is a lozenge-shaped tablet of limestone, which has carved upon it, a heraldic device. It has been alleged that it represents the coat of arms of Admiral Lord Hawke of Towton, who once owned the property. The heraldic device has been investigated and identified as generally representing the arms of ‘Hamond of Scarthingwell’ and probably date to the seventeenth century. Several aspects of the carving suggest that this carving was left unfinished and some parts appear to have been altered. When this stone was positioned in this location on Towton Hall cannot be determined but it is similar in style and in some aspects to seventeenth century and later Funerary Hatchments.

Summary On 5 October 2009, archaeological investigations were initiated within the rear garden o... more Summary
On 5 October 2009, archaeological investigations were initiated within the rear garden of Castle Hill House, Westgate, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. The gardens are the site of Tadcaster Castle, which consist of earthworks, including a large motte, or mound, and its associated ditch. The aims of the surveys and excavations were to establish if human remains still existed in the garden of the house, as several were reported to have been found during earlier survey and excavation work carried out in the 1970s and 80s by a group of interested students from the extra mural department of an educational facility from Leeds. The current work began with very limited geophysical surveys but recorded no clearly definable features of note. Ten interventions were opened and artefacts recorded, including several artefacts from the Romano-British period. No structural remains were observed. Remarkably little in the way of artefact evidence from the medieval period was recovered. Several human skeletons were uncovered, one of which, a mature woman, was removed and analysed further, with the intent that it is assessed by AMS dating. The human remains appear to be Christian in that they are orientated west-east and appear to form a small cemetery of several individuals. Further work is planned and a period to which the cemetery belongs will hopefully be ascertained.

Fornvännen 116, 2021

A large stone memorial cross with a partial inscription is situated at Grens, in Mästerby parish,... more A large stone memorial cross with a partial inscription is situated at Grens, in Mästerby parish, central Gotland. According to oral tradition the termination of the 1361 Mästerby battle between Danes and Gotlanders was fought here. An inscription on it has been interpreted as containing the year 1550 but a recent ‘raking light’ survey now enables another interpretation. Through comparing the observed letters with medieval texts, including that on the Korsbetningen cross, at the mass graves in Visby, we suggest that the Grens cross is 1361 related. The Grens cross itself, as well as its engraving, might have been made by non-profes-
sionals, due to the evident lack of skilled manufacture, resulting in a somewhat misaligned cross and an abandoned inscription. The seven readable characters are an “a” and following a gap, “do”, together interpreted as representing “Anno Domini”. After a wider gap, four letters might be interpreted as “ic:ob”. The first part is ambiguous, because of the shallow and incomplete nature of these letters. The “o” is the most certain letter in this part of the inscription. The “:” might represent a punctuation mark. Our interpretative suggestion for this section is
“hic obiit”, that is, “here died”. The early erection of the Mästerby cross might suggest that the country dwellers were determined to be resourceful, albeit with small economical margins thus commemorating this important event with a lasting memorial.

CCCAFU Report, 1995

A magnetic susceptibility survey was carried out over an area of land at Milton, Cambridge which ... more A magnetic susceptibility survey was carried out over an area of land at Milton, Cambridge which was due to be turned into a waste disposal tip. The survey area covered just over 6 hectares and consisted of 177 samples being taken on a twenty metre grid. The soil was then processed and the magnetic susceptibility reading of each sample was taken. Areas of high readings were identified and located on the ground ready for additional archaeological assessments in the form of further geophysical work and a trenching evaluation. Certain areas of enhanced readings were positively identified as being the result of Iron Age/Romano-British occupation areas.

Conference Proceedings : Fields of Conflict, 2016; Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 2019

Proceedings : Fields of Conflict, 2016; Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 2019

Arms and Armour, 2015

The paper re-interprets the implement known as the ‘Towton Battle Axe’ allegedly found in the riv... more The paper re-interprets the implement known as the ‘Towton Battle Axe’
allegedly found in the river which borders the Towton Battlefield (1461),
Yorkshire, England, and which now resides in Alnwick Castle, Northumberland.
The paper provides parallels, in the form of comparisons with other weapons,
in order that the Towton implement can be shown to be a modified former
halberd dating from the early sixteenth century. It is, therefore, highly unlikely
that the implement was used in the famous battle.
KEYWORDS Battle of Towton, Towton Battle Axe, halberd, medieval weapon, Alnwick Castle, 1461, Towton Battlefield Archaeology Project, Cock Beck.

In October 2002 archaeologist Tim Sutherland together with Simon Richardson and fourteen voluntee... more In October 2002 archaeologist Tim Sutherland together with Simon Richardson and fourteen volunteers from the Towton Battlefield Society excavated a section through one of a series of features evident on aerial photographs as a collection of crop marks and recorded on the North Yorkshire Sites and Monuments Record. The features were located half a mile to the southwest of the village of Towton, North Yorkshire (NGR SE 448043/439227).
The aim of the excavation was to ascertain if the site was the same as that described in a seventeenth century document which describes the graves of combatants from the battle of Towton, AD 1461.
The excavation revealed a rock-cut ditch, 2.10 metres deep and over four metres wide, which dated to the late Iron Age or early Romano-British period. It appears to have silted up naturally rather than being deliberately back-filled and incorporated several sherds of Romano-British pottery and fragments of pig, sheep and cattle bones. No human remains were found.
The ditch appears to have silted up completely during the Romano-British period or shortly afterwards possibly leaving the banks, formed from the spoil from the ditches, still standing to some extent.
It is possible that these banks were present during the Battle of Towton. Even though the location of the excavation fits one of the descriptions of the site of the graves, it is very unlikely that it contained large numbers of human remains.

Archaeological Metal Detector Survey, undertaken in 2002 on the acknowledged site of the Battle o... more Archaeological Metal Detector Survey, undertaken in 2002 on the acknowledged site of the Battle of Agincourt (AD1415), Azincourt, Pas de Calais, France

Archaeological Geophysical Survey at Compton Wynyates House, 2001

Summary In September 2001 a series of archaeological geophysical surveys was carried out over ... more Summary

In September 2001 a series of archaeological geophysical surveys was carried out over several areas of land close to the house at Compton Wynyates, Tysoe, Warwickshire. The surveys were carried out by Mr. Timothy Sutherland and Dr. Arnold Aspinall at the request of the Marquis of Northampton, the owner of Compton Wynyates. The aim of the surveys were to attempt to locate evidence of sub-surface archaeological remains, around the house and private church and if possible, traces of a brick and stone lined tunnel known to exist close to the house. Three different areas were surveyed using earth electrical resistance and magnetic geophysical survey equipment, (I) in an area to the north of, and immediately adjoining the church, (II) over an area of lawn to the west and south of the house and (III) over an area of raised lawn around a pond and ornamental flowerbed further south of the house. The geophysical surveys proved valuable in that earlier structures immediately to the north of the church may have been identified. Also there arises the possibility of buildings bordering the western approach drive to the house and there is confirmation of an early layout of the formal garden on the raised piece of ground.

No obvious evidence of the tunnel was recorded, although this outcome was expected due to its depth at more than one metre below the surface of the ground.

Bournemouth University Research Online [BURO] is designed to allow users to access the research o... more Bournemouth University Research Online [BURO] is designed to allow users to access the research output of the institution. Copyright (c) and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. ... Any correspondance ...

The Battle of Agincourt, 2015

Translation of letter to Mr Ravier Head of National Army Police Force RE excavations by Woodford ... more Translation of letter to Mr Ravier Head of National Army Police Force RE excavations by Woodford at Agincourt Dated 20 March 1818

TRANSCRIPTIONS OF TWO LETTERS WRITTEN BY COL. JOHN GEORGE WOODFORD TO HIS BROTHER ALEXANDER GEORG... more TRANSCRIPTIONS OF TWO LETTERS WRITTEN BY COL. JOHN GEORGE WOODFORD TO HIS BROTHER ALEXANDER GEORGE WOODFORD ON 20 FEBRUARY AND 28 FEBRUARY, 1818 RELATING TO HIS EXCAVATIONS ON THE AGINCOURT BATTLEFIELD

Fornvännen 116, 2021

CCCAFU Report, 1995

Conference Proceedings : Fields of Conflict, 2016; Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 2019

Proceedings : Fields of Conflict, 2016; Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 2019

Arms and Armour, 2015

Archaeological Geophysical Survey at Compton Wynyates House, 2001

Summary In September 2001 a series of archaeological geophysical surveys was carried out over ... more Summary

No obvious evidence of the tunnel was recorded, although this outcome was expected due to its depth at more than one metre below the surface of the ground.

The Battle of Agincourt, 2015

The battle of Agincourt has inspired a great deal of historical research over the centuries since... more The battle of Agincourt has inspired a great deal of historical research over the centuries since it was fought. The archaeological potential of the battlefield, on the other hand, has attracted far less attention. This can be summed up via two general investigations; those undertaken by Lt Col John Woodford in 1818 and the archaeological surveys and excavations carried out by Sutherland since 2002. So much of what we think we know about the battlefield has been influenced by Woodford's notes, maps and illustrations that it is important to attempt to archaeological confirm or refute this information. Current research investigates the context in which he worked and attempts to make sense of his legacy.

'The discovery of the skeleton of King Richard III, who died at the Battle of Bosworth (1485) led... more 'The discovery of the skeleton of King Richard III, who died at the Battle of Bosworth (1485) led to a comparison of the sharp edge and penetration weapon trauma on Richard’s bones with that of some of the skeletal material from the Battle of Towton (1461). A complex interpretation initially applied involved multiple weapons over an extended period of time, during and after the battle. This paper provides evidence that the wounds inflicted might simply represent a minimum of two weapons used in a very short space of time, thereby removing the necessity for the wounds inflicted as ‘post battle humiliation’.

CCCAFU Report, 1995

A recording brief was undertaken by Cambridgeshire County Council Archaeological Field Unit staff... more A recording brief was undertaken by Cambridgeshire County Council Archaeological Field Unit staff at Oxcroft Farm, West Wratting (TL 5916 5132) during building works throughout the summer of 1995. The refurbishment of a grade II listed dovecote was observed, and trail trenches excavated in advance of landscaping. The dovecote proved to be a brisk structure dating from the eighteenth century which had been converted to a dwelling during the nineteenth century. The 1995 refurbishment left the shell of the original dovecote intact but stripped away modern domestic extensions. A medieval ditch was located and sectioned.

On Friday 27 April 2007, archaeological remains were recorded after being exposed during the cons... more On Friday 27 April 2007, archaeological remains were recorded after being exposed during the construction of a sunken garden feature within the rear garden of 9-11 Westgate, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.

Approximately 8kg (18lbs) of very slightly abraded medieval pottery was recovered from a well-sorted soil within the site. The pottery has been tentatively dated to approximately the eleventh and twelfth century which is coincidental with the period of use of the nearby castle.

A single layer of varying sized stones was found below the well-sorted pottery rich soil which might have formed a working surface. However, its uneven nature and a lack of crushed pottery and refuse upon it suggested little or no prolonged use.

Anecdotal evidence from local inhabitants suggested that a Roman structure, and potentially a Roman mosaic floor, had at some time in the past, been discovered on an adjacent plot of land to that investigated. No evidence of Romano-British occupation was discovered although a very worn oval-shaped copper-alloy coin and a very few sherds of very abraded Roman pottery were recovered indicating some possible activity in the area in this period.

B.Sc. Thesis, 1994

Several types of archaeological survey were carried out over an area of Eggardon Hillfort, Dorset... more Several types of archaeological survey were carried out over an area of Eggardon Hillfort, Dorset, in order to compare the extent of the disturbance caused by the ploughing of the interior in relation to the unploughed side which contained earthwork features apparently dating from the Middle Bronze Age to the eighteenth century AD. The results show that although half of the site appeared to have been first ploughed during the Second World War and subsequently shallow ploughed only a few times, enough cultivation had taken place to level this half of the site and remove most traces of non-artefactual archaeological evidence detectable by the surveys from within the plough zone. Below the plough soil the survey results inferred that the remaining evidence, mainly in the form of what are believed to be deep pits, appear as highlighted areas in an otherwise 'blurred' background.