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P0809 Cable Trench, Museum Gardens
The excavation of two inspection chambers and an archaeological watching brief on the digging of a cable trench in the Museum Gardens, revealed the presence of five walls and a probable drain/sewer. The depth, materials and alignments of these features suggest that they originally formed parts of the medieval abbey of St. Mary’s. A number of rubbly deposits likely to relate to the demise of these and other buildings were also observed. Later deposits can be associated with the landscaping and horticultural activities of the gardens, and in one area to the disposal of probable excavation spoil, in the early 19th century. The latest features encountered relate to modern paths and services.
P0532/P0574 BHS Store, 44 Coney Street
Archaeological work carried out in advance of the construction of escalator pits revealed extremely well preserved remains of the Roman legionary fortress wall standing to a height just below the modern floor surface. The fortress wall appeared to be retained as a landscape feature well into the 13th century, and although the wall was robbed and material built up against its sides during the medieval period, it continued to be used as a property boundary in to the 20th century. Occupation of the Feasgate frontage was represented by a series of pits which indicated the disposal of butchery and leather working waste which were dated to the early 12th - 13th century. Timber and clay lined pits which had been truncated by later pits may have been associated with tanning or textile dyeing trades. A complex series of beam slots, which was thought to be the remains of a timber framed outbuilding or byre, dated to the 12th century. Medieval deposits had been partly truncated and post medieval deposits completely removed by the construction of the modern shop.
A0521 Museum Gardens (sewer manhole)
Observation took place during the construction of a manhole at the junction of the medieval and Victorian sewers recorded in 1984 (1984.6). No new archaeological evidence was recorded.
A0282 Swinegate (Roman sewer)
A length of Roman sewer was excavated in the course of reconstruction of the Victorian sewer.
A0319 Museum Gardens (medieval sewer)
A Victorian brick sewer with an earlier, medieval stone sewer were recorded in a contractor's trench. The stone sewer was a part of the medieval drainage system for St Mary's Abbey. The junction of three drains was observed. The external corner of a building constructed in limestone ashlar was recorded.
A0085 Parliament Street Sewer
It was apparent that repair work on the 19th century sewer had truncated archaeological deposits. However, some observations of previously undisturbed archaeological deposits were possible. Part of the south-east wall of the legionary fortress was seen with chevron tooled plinth stones. An iron ploughshare and coulter were recovered from unstratified levels in the fortress ditch. Part of an upstanding wall of a Roman building was observed. Considerable quantities of demolished material for Roman building were also seen. Two undated ditches were thought to belong to the Roman period. Levels of presumed Anglo-Scandinavian date were observed along the full length of the sewer trench. Their depth increased significantly towards the south-east, the valley of the River Foss. Amorphous peat deposits were seen in quantity. Wicker-lined pits, occasional fence posts, and post and planks from timber buildings were observed. At the south-eastern end of the trench timber sill beams and associated ash floors were observed.
A0009 4-5 Church Street (CS) (Roman Sewer)
A Roman sewer system and an adjacent complex of buildings in the praetentura of the legionary fortress were excavated. The sewer comprised a main channel with six side passages running into it; five of the channels connected with the main channel; entry points in the roofs of the channels and a manhole; and traces of what might have been a sluice were found. The channel and passages were vaulted in places, apparently to bear the weight of the buildings above. The sewer lies close to a legionary bath complex of which the adjacent building may be a part. Drains for a bath and a hypocaust were found. Deposits within the sewer were analysed for their environmental evidence and the origin and character of the stone used in its construction were researched. It is likely that the sewer preceded the first stone buildings of the fortress in the early 2nd century and that the sewer system was closed before the end of the 4th century.