The site of a significant prehistoric settlement has been severely damaged by repeated illegal off-roading, says the North York Moors National Park Authority.
The settlement near Hackness, Scarborough, is is thought to date back 2,500 years.
The damage, which includes severe rutting, churn-up and disturbance to the ground, has been caused by four-wheel drive vehicles repeatedly travelling over the earth banks and ditches of the monument during, or just after, wet weather.
One of the historic banks has been eroded down to the rubble core, according to archaeologists.
The incident was reported by a concerned member of the Scarborough Archaeological Society in late 2024, prompting a site visit by the National Park Authority and Forestry England.
Immediate measures were taken to prevent further vehicle access, however equipment has since been used to remove these barricades and there has been further damage caused by vehicle movements.
Miles Johnson, head of historic environment at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “The severity of the damage is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of archaeological sites to this kind of criminal behaviour.
“It’s astonishing that those who have caused this very obvious harm to the landscape have not only returned but gone to some lengths to regain access to a clearly blocked site. This is not ignorance but a blatant disregard for the law.”
Hackness, North York Moors National Park
The site near Hackness consists of a large rectangular enclosure containing a number of well-preserved earthwork features.
Situated in what was once a prominent location in Wykeham Forest (now managed by Forestry England) the site provides a fascinating glimpse into how people lived, farmed, and defended their communities during later prehistory.
Illegal off-roading is any activity which involves driving a motor vehicle off a designated road without permission from the landowner. This includes driving on non-vehicular rights of way such as footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways, or driving on vehicular routes that are legally closed to motor vehicles
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Our area is home to countless historically-important sites, and we should do everything we can to preserve them for future generations.
“Repairing the damage caused to heritage sites by criminal activity such as this is expensive – and the cost to local communities could be immeasurable.
“We regularly patrol sites to ensure they’re protected. We’d also urge anyone who lives or works nearby to help us – report any suspicious activity to the police by dialling 101, or 999 if a crime is in progress.”
Anyone with information regarding this Wykeham Forest incident should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101. The crime reference number is 12240220658.