ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered fresh information about the Battle of Fulford during a dig at the site on York’s outskirts.

Chas Jones, who led the dig last week on land owned by Fulford Parish Council, said it involved volunteer archaeologists supported by the local community.

He said it had found a fourth crossing point at a ford which was ‘at the centre of the action’ when King Harald Hardrada defeated the northern English army in 1066.

“Previously, a rutted medieval road, a wide Roman road and even a stepping stone crossing below the Roman surface had been identified at the ford,” he said.

“But the new route was 70 metres upstream, and made of brushwood, with vertical posts to guide people.

“This allowed people to cross Germany Beck even when the tide was high and this would have been significant on the day of the battle.

“Along with Roman pottery, the remains of a brazier was also found where those waiting to cross could have kept warm if the tide was exceptionally high, as happened on the day of the 1066 battle.”

Fulford was the site of the first of three major battles in 1066 which changed the course of history, coming before the Battle of Stamford Bridge and then the Battle of Hastings.

“The revealed landscape would have allowed the Viking army to close the trap around the young Earl Morcar and his army that appeared to be winning the battle until King Harald crossed the beck beside the Ouse to get behind the English shield-wall.”

He added that the site, where substantial evidence of weapons being recycled after the battle had been identified, was currently being assessed for inclusion in the national Register of Battlefields by Historic England.