There were a series of timber buildings constructed on the site that were excavated by archaeologists in the mid 20th century.
Building A1 was initially a “plain, aisled hall, devoid of annexes” which had a doorway situated on every wall. It was a large building, with wall timbers that were 5.5 to 6 inches thick set in trenches that varied from between 36 and 42 inches deep. After burning down in a fire, it was rebuilt “more robustly and precisely”, with additional eastern and western annexes being added. Excavators found that daub had apparently been used on the walls, being plastered on to the timber. This too burned down at some point, following which a third version of Building A1 was erected, containing only one annexe, on the eastern side. This final building would in time come to rot away where it stood.[11]
Building A2 was a Great Hall with partitioning palisades that created ante-chambers at its two ends. Rather than being destroyed in a fire, it is apparent that the building was intentionally demolished most likely because “in a new phase of construction” at the site, “it had ceased to be useful.”[12] Archaeological excavators discovered that this building had been built on top of an earlier prehistoric burial pit.[13] Building A3 was also a Great Hall, and resembled a “larger and more elaborate version” of the second construction of Building A1. It was apparently destroyed in a fire, before being rebuilt and although some repairs were made in subsequent years, it gradually decayed in situ.[14] Building A4 was similar to A2 in most respects, but had only one partition, located on its eastern end.[15] However, Building A5 differed from these Great Halls, being described as “a house or even a cottage” by Hope-Taylor, and it apparently had a door on each of its walls.[16] Buildings A6 and A7 were identified as being older than A5, but were of a similar size.[17] Building B was another hall, this time with a western annexe.[18]
Building C1 was a rectangular pit, leading archaeologists to speculate that it was the site of a water tank or cistern, and the presence of a layer of white ash led them to surmise that it had burnt down.[19] Building C2 was another rectangular building like most of those at Yeavering, and had four doors, although unlike many of the others showed no evidence of having been damaged or destroyed by fire.[20] Building C3 was also a rectangular timber hall, although was larger than C2 and was of “unusual construction”, having double rows of external post-holes.[21] Building C4 was the largest hall in this group, having seen two structural phases, the former of which had apparently been heavily damaged or destroyed by fire.[22]
Building D1 was described by Hope-Taylor as being an example of “strange incompetence” due to the various mistakes that apparently occurred during its construction. Although likely intended to be rectangular, from the post hole evidence it is apparent that the finished result was rhomboidal, and it appears that not long after construction, the building collapsed or was demolished, to be replaced by another hall, which also exhibited various structural problems such as wonky walls.[23]
Building D2 was designed as “the exact counterpart of Building D1 in size, form and orientation”, and the two were positioned in a precise alignment. It was however at some point demolished, and a new “massive and elaborate” version was built in its place.[24] Building D2 has been widely interpreted as a temple or shrine room dedicated to one or more of the gods of Anglo-Saxon paganism, making it the only known example of such a site yet found by archaeologists in England.[25][26] Archaeologists came to this conclusion due to the complete lack of any objects associated with normal domestic use, such as a scatter of animal bones of broken pot sherds. Accompanying this was a large pit filled with animal bones, the majority of which were oxen skulls.[27]
Building E was situated in the centre of the township, and consisted of nine foundation trenches that were each concentric in shape. From the positioning, depth and width of the post holes, the excavators came to the conclusion that the building was a large tiered seating area facing a platform that may have carried a throne.[28]
There is also a feature referred to as the Great Enclosure by Hope-Taylor, consisting of a circular earthwork with an entrance at the southern end. In the middle of this enclosure was a rectangular timber building, known as Building BC, which the excavators believed was contemporary with the rest of the enclosure.
Reference
Wiki Yeavering
