York Archaeology Online Collections

Items

• P5631 Mansion House & Guildhall, St. Helen's Square
• P1180 Cable Trench, Mount Terrace
  Natural deposits of firm brown clay were noted in all but Trench 1. Although no finds were recovered from the watching brief, all deposits and features overlying the natural were definitely or very probably modern in origin and associated with the installation of modern services. Nothing of notable archaeological significance was observed in any of the trenches.
• P1256 96 Holgate Road
• P1281 60 Lawrence Street
  Between 11th and 20th July 2005 York Archaeological Trust undertook an evaluation excavation at 60 Lawrence Street, York. This was in advance of a proposal to demolish the existing retail property and redevelop the site by erecting new flats and garages. In the three trenches excavated evidence was recovered for activity of an agricultural nature during the Roman period followed by disuse in the subsequent Anglian period. Activity, and possibly occupation of the site, recommenced in the Anglo-Scandinavian period and there was some evidence to suggest that this may have been continuous up to the present day. This site has produced valuable evidence for understanding the origins and development of this suburban area of York.
• P1214 Land Adjacent To St Saviour's Church, Hungate, York
  Between 13th and 22nd September York Archaeological Trust undertook an archaeological evaluation excavation at land adjacent to St Saviour’s Church, Hungate, York in order to assess the date, nature, preservation and quality of any archaeological remains on the site. The evaluation revealed a complex sequence of burials, structures and occupation deposits, and road surfaces dating from the 11th - 12th century to the present day. There was also evidence of possible earlier Roman, Anglian and Anglo Scandinavian activity on the site. Significant archaeology, including the burials, lay relatively close to the modern ground surface but is at present generally well preserved and has great potential as an archaeological resource for revealing and understanding the development of this area of York over the last 2000 years.
• P1304 St Mary's Church
• P5060 26 St Saviourgate, York
  No dating evidence was recovered from these works but it was reasonably clear that all the contexts seen in Sections 1 and 2 were relatively modern. Their mixed nature and thickness suggests that they are mainly levelling deposits brought in to level up the back garden which would originally have sloped gently down towards The Stonebow. In Section 3, however, Context 1018 almost certainly represents a demolition deposit derived, possibly, from medieval or early post medieval buildings standing in the area prior to the construction of the present 26 St Saviourgate and this demolition deposit has been seen in the vicinity previously. It is not clear what structure drain 1021 may have served but the form of its construction may suggest that it is pre-19th century in date. Overall it is not believed that any serious damage was done to any archaeological remains exposed during the work.
• P5461 Conisbrough Cemetery Extension, Sheffield Road, Conisbrough, South Yorkshire
  A 6 trench machine-excavated evaluation in the field immediately south-west of Conisbrough Cemetery identified natural glacial deposits and in one trench (#3) a double-ditch with a clay embankment, provisionally interpreted as the plough-truncated remains of the medieval deer park boundary. Also present down-slope of the boundary was a smaller ditch associated with two stone packed post-holes of unknown date. Up-slope from the boundary, a stone packed foundation of unknown date was also identified.
• P5424 Land to Rear of Festival Flats
  Evaluation (Ian Milsted): Two evaluation trenches encountered possible Roman terracing cut into natural deposits. Also present were a probable Roman ditch and occupation soil, which was truncated by medieval activity including rubbish pits which produced 11th-12th century pottery. A substantial 19th century ground make-up deposit sealed all earlier activity and there was some limited evidence of later structures. Watching brief (David Evans): During these works no finds were recovered. Due to a redesign of the construction of the new car parking area the only area where it was considered likely that any significant archaeology might be encountered was towards the base of the new ramp but examination of this area when exposed revealed that modern drains had removed most of any archaeology that may have been present. No features were observed here or elsewhere and the overall strip did not fully penetrate clearly modern deposits. A small amount of the medieval agricultural soil was removed during the excavation of the ramp but other than this it is not believed that archaeological deposits or features of any great significance were disturbed and features such as those recorded in the evaluation remain buried below the new car park.
• P5366 Utility trench, Foss Islands Road, Lawrence Street, York
  Natural deposits were recorded in at least seven of the sections and was generally a firm mid brown clay although in Section 9 it proved to be sand. The Lawrence Street area is known for having sand rather than clay as the immediate underlying natural deposit. The only definite feature recorded was the large linear cut, Context 1055, in Section 9. Although not precisely datable it was possible to demonstrate that it cut directly into natural and was sealed by clean dark build up deposits of probable medieval date. It is probable, therefore, that it is of Roman date but this is problematic since it is in the same location, and aligned similarly, as a possible Roman road heading for the Legionary Fortress. It is far too wide to be a roadside ditch and its function remains uncertain. Moderate to large quantities of animal bone from its lower backfill do, however, suggest that it was used for tipping waste bone. No other definite features were noted during this watching brief but definite or probable build-up deposits were recorded from all the described trenches. The only other context of note was the brick culvert, Context 1011, seen in Section 3. Generally the trenches excavated for this work followed quite closely the line of previous service trenches and overall little damage was done to any archaeological remains.
• P5312 Rawcliffe Infant School, Eastholme Drive, York
  Five evaluation trenches were excavated in a recreation field to the immediate east of Rawcliffe Infant School, Eastholme Drive, York. Natural sub-soil deposits were encountered in all of the trenches at c.0.25m below modern ground level, which was between 11-12.00m AOD. Medieval or early post-medieval ridge and furrow was present in four of the trenches, while modern field drains were present in all five trenches. No other archaeological remains were found.
• P0566 Land adjacent to Lord Mayor's Walk
  No significant archaeological features were encountered in a trench dug for the siting of a CCTV camera, which was excavated to a depth of 0.50m. Beneath the topsoil was a demolition deposit associated with the demolition and reconstruction of an adjacent toilet block.
• P0506/P0527 18a-19 Fetter Lane
  Evidence of occupation on the site from the Roman to the modern period was found. A metalled Roman surface at a depth of only 1.10m below the modern street was identified with the suggestion of significant Roman deposits below. Post-medieval cellars had truncated some of the deposits.
• P0464/P0514 Land off Manor Lane, Rawcliffe
  The excavation revealed a Roman ditch, which was interpreted as a field boundary and was confirmed by further evidence recorded during a subsequent watching brief where it was interpreted as possibly defining a Romano-British farm or small-holding. addtional ditch features were interperted as part of the same field system.Traces of another ditch, possibly of medieval date, were revealed. The site appears to have been subject to deep ploughing which may have truncated any other archaeological features which may have been present.
• P0434 Sewer Repair, Bishopgate Street
  Beneath the modern road make-up backfill of a sewage trench was observed, and natural deposits were encountered at 0.75m - 1.00m below ground surface.
• P0432 Sewer Repair adjacent to 3 King's Court
  A cobble surface of Roman date was encountered at approximately 3m below ground level. Above it was a series of silty clay build-up deposits, a layer of dumped cobbles and the remains of further cobble surfaces. These deposits were likely to have been of medieval date.
• P0156 Manor Farm, Rawcliffe
  Some features were observed which indicated the area was under cultivation in post-medieval times. A field boundary ditch was encountered, and a fence line. These observations did not add substantially to the main excavation in the area.
• A0841 Frontage of 148 Lawrence Street
  Two 3 x 3 m trenches excavated in advance of a building extension revealed the original ground surface sloping steeply down from south to north, cut by two possible graves which may have been of Roman date. A series of build-up levels of medieval date were sealed by post-medieval surfaces and demolition deposits that were probably associated with the Hospital of St Nicholas. A post-medieval stone-lined feature was observed in contractor's trenches of a maximum of 0.80m depth.
• A0882 Manor Farm, Manor Lane, Rawcliffe
  A topographic survey recorded medieval field boundaries and it was demonstrated that structures in this area were post-medieval in date. Excavation showed evidence of a Romano-British field ditch system. A large ditch which is likely to have acted as a parish boundary between Skelton and Rawcliffe was found to date from the Anglian or Anglo-Scandinavian period. A field drain and ridge and furrow provided evidence of medieval agriculture and a ditch may have been a minor boundary ditch. The buildings of Manor Farm are likely to be of post-medieval date.
• A0850 North Street FAS, pumping main trench
  Alluvial silt was observed at 2.80m below ground and above it a levelling deposit, likely to have been used to raise the level of the land prior to building construction. A small area of cobbling of medieval date was found associated with a building. Evidence for the building was a cobble footing and limestone padstone and a fragmentary wall. Other structural remains observed were two timber piles set in clay and limestone blocks with a further horizontal timber. When this building was demolished the area was levelled with 0.80m depth of sand. At this level a brick culvert was constructed of likely 15th century date. Above a further levelling deposit was a substantial limestone wall which may have been a flood defence wall associated with a slipway, or the 19th century warehouses which had occupied the site.
• A0842 North Street , sewer discharge chamber
  At approximately 3.70m below ground surface a timber-lined sewer was observed. Between 3.80m and 5.70m below ground surface the associated culvert or drain was located; it was lined with a layer of floor tiles and thought to be of Roman date. It was aligned north-west/south-east, orientated along the line of the Roman buildings located on the opposite side of Micklegate. The drain, 0.70m wide and c. 0.90m high, appeared to have been backfilled in the Roman period.
• A0783 57 Bootham
  A significant depth of post-medieval build-up was found to seal possible medieval levels, represented by a pit and contemporary surface, which were not threatened by the proposed development.
• A0823 Wellington Row, flood alleviation wall
  Post-medieval features were observed, including drains, a cellar and floor in a contractor's trench.
• A0822 Fossgate, gas main trench
  A photographic record was made of a stone-lined drain observed in a contractor's trench.
• A0812 Viking Hotel, North Street (River wall works)
  Mostly modern deposits were observed but late medieval walls and drains were recorded during preliminary work for the major flood prevention scheme on North Street.