A RANGE of archaeological finds unearthed in a field where developers want to build 700 homes proves it is the site of the Battle Of Fulford in 1066, a local historian has claimed.

Charles Jones, of the Fulford Battlefield Society, said metal objects discovered near the supposed site of the ancient battle had given new weight to theories over its precise location.

As part of the annual Jorvik Viking Festival, held in February, a batch of iron finds was examined by experts and enthusiasts.

Mr Jones said this led to the discovery of a second metal-smithing area close to a hearth identified two years ago.

He said a Scandinavian archaeologist had identified some finds near the area as Nordic weapon fragments, and suggested that the battle's victors were reworking damaged weapons on the hearths.

Mr Jones said: "We always knew that it would be very difficult to locate the precise site of this ancient battle.

"Medieval battles were brief events and, compared with later conflict, were modest in size; but there were probably between ten and 15,000 warriors at Fulford.

"What we are finding suggests that the victors systematically cleared the site of the items that would help modern searchers like us to identify this forgotten battle."

The dispute over the precise whereabouts of the medieval battle site figured prominently in a public inquiry into Persimmon Homes' controversial scheme to build 700 homes on land around Germany Beck.

Experts lined up against each other to argue over whether there is evidence to prove the battle was fought on part of the proposed development site.

Mr Jones, who spoke against the development, said the new finds meant the group needed to extend its work.

He said: "These physical finds leave very little room for doubt that we have identified a missing piece of our history - the site of the Battle Of Fulford.

"Much work remains to be done. Who knows what other surprises we have still to find?"

Fulford's pivotal role in history

THE Battle Of Fulford is less well-known than the famous conflict at Hastings of the same year and the Battle Of Stamford Bridge.

But historians still say it was decisive and helped to shape the country's future for centuries to come.

In the Fulford battle, fought on September 20, Harald Hardrada defeated northern earls Edwin and Morcar.

The victory prompted King Harold Godwinson to march north, where he beat Harald and his ally, Tostig Godwinson, at Stamford Bridge on September 25.

Harold then marched south at great speed to Hastings, where his exhausted and depleted army was narrowly defeated on October 14 by the Normans, led by William.