Wooden stakes used to defend Sheffield Castle have been found in Castlegate, marking the first preserved example of a 17th century defence system, known as an abatis.
The stakes would have likely formed part of an abatis, a barrier made out of sharpened wood strategically placed to slow down attacking forces and create a ‘killing zone’, used here in front of the castle gates.
Wessex Archaeology have been leading the dig on behalf of Sheffield City Council as part of the city’s regeneration project.
Lead archaeologist, Ashley Tuck, said these will “add to our understanding of this turbulent period in Sheffield’s past”.
He said: “So often we are told about Civil War defences like abatises being used at historic properties across the country, but usually there is little to see of these important features.
“To be able to hold the very wood to which the defenders of Sheffield Castle trusted their lives is extraordinary.”
The stakes were used to defend the royalist-held castle during its 10-day siege in August 1644, before eventually falling to parliamentary forces.
The wood used to make an abatis usually decays quickly, however the specific conditions of the site meant the wood was buried quickly in the waterlogged remains of the moat. Their recovery therefore represents a unique find in British archaeology.
Despite Sheffield’s image as an industrial revolution city, the castle shows the city’s rich history. The first reference to a castle on the site dates back to the 12th century.
The stakes will be given to Sheffield Museums Trust after preservation work is completed, which may still take years to complete.
