York Archaeology Online Collections

Items

• P0900 Lanf off Main Street, Knapton
  In January 2002, York Archaeological Trust undertook a programme of archaeological investigation of a small block of land at the northern end of Knapton Village, on the western edge of York. The evaluation consisted of the excavation of three trenches across the site. In Trenches 1 and 2 modern deposits were found to directly overlie the natural sub-soil and no features, structures, or deposits of archaeological significance were noted. In Trench 3 a thick deposit, probably a plough soil of medieval date, was noted. Two features, one a possible ditch or pit and the other an animal burial, were recorded from this trench but both are believed to be relatively modern. The evaluation found no significant evidence for activity of any major archaeological interest in the trenches examined and therefore across the whole site although it is possible that larger scale stripping of the topsoil might reveal some archaeological features.
• 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
• P5582 York Gas Works, Heworth Green, York
  A watching brief during mitigation ground works at the site of the former York Gas Works identified natural geological deposits at around 1m below ground level, overlain by an agricultural soil of 18th – 19th century date. This had been disturbed by a clearance and extensive levelling, dumping and waste disposal activity associated with the 19th and 20th century developments of the Gasworks. The site was then extensively levelled and turfed in the later 20th century. No significant archaeological remains were found.
• P5463 Poppleton Junior Football Club, Millfield Lane, Nether Poppleton, York
  A watching brief was maintained during foundation groundworks for new sports facilities. Natural sand was observed at c.0.80m BGL, overlain by a 0.40m thick subsoil that produced 19th and 20th century pottery. This was sealed beneath a 0.40m thick topsoil.
• 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.
• P5385 Tythe Farm, Main Street, Hemingbrough
  The remains of a probable medieval cemetery were exposed during ground works at Tythe Farm, Hemingbrough. Eleven burials were identified and associated with the nearby church of St Mary’s. Two large pits and a posthole were also found which were thought to post-date the cemetery and relate to agricultural activity.
• 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.
• P5280 Land at Galmanhoe Lane, York
  An archaeological evaluation was undertaken between 7th and 12th October 2009 at the former YAT Wet Wood Laboratory on Galmanhoe Lane, York. A single trench measuring 4m x 2m was excavated to a depth of 1.25m below ground level. A former ground surface of post-medieval date was encountered, which contained an animal burial and was overlain by a 0.60m thick garden soil, also of post medieval origin. The area remained undeveloped until the mid 20th century, when a sequence of structures culminating in the current building was constructed at the above location.
• P5244 Sewerage Attenuation Tank, 28-40 Blossom Street, York
  ASSESSMENT A 2.8m deep excavation at 28-40 Blossom Street conducted between 30th June and 14th August 2009 encountered natural glacial deposits at 13.22-13.06m AOD, overlain by six phases of Roman activity dating from the late 1st to the late 4th centuries AD, 3 phases of medieval deposits and 2 phases of post-medieval and modern activity. Roman activity consisted of 1st/2nd century ditches and a small road, mid 2nd/early 3rd century levelling and possible industrial and funerary activity, major 3rd century levelling and possible structures and a mid/late 4th century clearance and building. Of specific interest are the early ditches which have potential parallels nearby, the possibility of mid2nd/early 3rd century funerary features given the proximity of the site to known cemetaries, and the apparent lack of any trace of the main road from Eboracum to Calcaria, thought to lie immediately north-west of the excavation. The absence of clear road-side structures akin to those encountered in earlier excavations in this area until the late 4th century building may have significance for future studies of this area. Also of interest is the extensive amount of material used in both phases of levelling, derived from a mixture of industrial, domestic and funerary sources, which have the potential to refine understanding of Roman activity in the wider Blossom Street area. Post-Roman activity was limited to evidence of 11th-13th century ‘back-land’ agricultural activity, overlain by 1m of medieval ploughsoil and the remains of nineteenth century buildings demolished in the 1960s. ANALYSIS The analysis phase of this investigation has resulted in a refinement of the original assessment phasing and interpretation. Activity commenced on this site with a late 1st/early 2nd century AD agricultural landscape, with a small road running perpendicular to the supposed main route into the civilian settlement from the south-west. The area south-west of this road was at the edge of a possible cremation cemetery in the early 3rd century AD, which seems to have gone out of use by the mid 3rd century, when a substantial levelling event using re-deposited 2nd century material occurred, with refuse pits and dumps, and a small post built structure with a cobbled surface was erected in the late 3rd century. This activity was then sealed by levelling deposits and the yard and post holes of a large timber building of early 4th century date. Its remains were heavily truncated by a clearance event in the late 11th century AD that removed any in-situ evidence for late and post-Roman activity, the presence of which was inferred from the quantity of residual material in later deposits.
• P0798/P0838 Land off Lord Mayor's Walk and Clarence Street
  The desk top study identified the likelihood that Roman and medieval remains would survive beneath the existing coach park surface but that there would have been significant truncation resulting from 19th century terraced housing on parts of the site. In the medieval period the site was part of the Horsefair but cartographic evidence suggests that at least one significant building may have stood on the site. An evaluative excavation on the site found residual Roman pottery suggesting the survival of Roman deposits below the level reached by excavation. Deposits up to 1.50m thick were dated to the medieval period. Some of this material represented plough soils. Part of this material may have been the upcast resulting from digging the city wall ditch, or alternatively may have resulted from cleaning the ditch out. Modern activity on the site was extensive. It was mainly in the form of the construction and subsequent demolition of buildings, known to be domestic housing. A brick culvert and a cellar associated with the Victorian housing on the site.
• P0794 The Acorns, Water Lane, Clifton
  Natural was observed at c. 1.10 - 1.40m below ground level. Above this possible medieval agricultural soils were seen in all the trenches except Trench 5. Ridge and furrow was also observed. Field drains were recorded cutting the agricultural soils and thus be associated with the rough pasture phase of use of this area in the 20th century. In several of the areas examined the agricultural soil had clearly been sealed by modern dumps almost certainly a result of the recent work on the site. A possible trackway was observed and while the limited stratigraphy on the site makes it very difficult to assign even a broad date to this feature, it appeared to lie close to and parallel with a field boundary. Since this area was enclosed in the post-medieval period it may be that this feature is of a similar date.
• P0782 Land off Wigginton Road and the A1237, Clifton Moor
  An evaluation excavation located two ditches, including the termination of one which may mark an entrance to the enclosure delineated by the ditch. These may have been evidence of Roman practice camps of which a number are known or surmised in the general area, although no dating evidence was recovered. The site appears to have been open ground until the present day and there was some evidence of agricultural use in the post-medieval and modern periods represented by field drains and a number of irregular features. A mortar and limestone deposit may have derived from construction activity associated with the use of the site as an airfield during and after World War II.
• P0781 A64 Top Lane junction, Copmanthorpe
  An archaeological watching brief on two engineering test pits in advance of road improvements to the A64/Top Lane junction at Copmanthorpe revealed little of archaeological interest. A possible ditch or field drain and a former plough soil were noted above natural deposits. No trace of the Roman road from York to Tadcaster was found.
• P0777/P0824 Former Concrete Works, Leeman Road
  Fourteen test pits and seven bore holes were observed as a watching brief. Modern dumping was recorded to a depth of up to 2m above natural over the majority of the site. In one trench c. 0.10m depth of build up which was possibly of post medieval date was recorded. Further work examined eight evaluation trenches. In one of these trenches, close to Leeman Road, the base of an old plough soil was identified. This deposit included Roman and post medieval pottery. The majority of the deposits which were encountered industrial waste including ash and cinders together with building and structural debris. In addition some deposits were redeposited natural. This material was all interpreted as modern infilling and levelling of a sloping ground surface associated with railway construction and works. See also desk top study 2000.2 YORAT
• P0773 Holmwood House Hotel, 112-114 Holgate Road
  To the rear of the property a plough soil of medieval or earlier date was found to be sealed by a surface formed of brick likely to have dated from immediately prior to the construction of the property c. 1846-51.
• P0771 90 The Mount
  An evaluative excavation demonstrated that c. 1m depth of Roman deposits are preserved in the area. In the medieval and post medieval period the area had been used for agricultural purposes and there were two ditches of medieval date which were thought to be larger than boundary markers.
• P0787 New CE Primary School, Kirby Hill, Boroughbridge
  A number of above ground earthworks were visible in the fields including two ridge and furrow field systems, their attendant boundaries and a lynchet/terrace. Most or all of these features related to the past agricultural use of the area which may have dated form the medieval and post-medieval periods. The geotechnical test pits were observed to revealed a former plough soil and underlying deposits believed to be of “natural” origin. No finds or features were observed within the confines of the small test pits that could confirm or deny the presence of a pre Norman conquest monastic settlement which may be located at or near the site.
• P0705 Sewer Repair, East Mount Road
  Observations were made when a shaft was excavated to gain access to a sewer. Modern service trenches and 19th century cellaring had truncated much of the archaeological deposits in the area. Medieval pottery was found in a soil which was interpreted as a plough soil. It sealed a ditch or pit base which it was suggested could date to the Roman period.
• P0704 Sewer Repair, Park Street
  Up to 1.4m depth of soil observed in a contractor's trench was interpreted as agricultural soil on the basis of previous similar deposits observed in the vicinity and dated as medieval on the same basis. It sealed a ditch or pit base which it was suggested could date to the Roman period.
• P0701 Land to the rear of 90 Clifton
  The layer of clean silty clay plough soil immediately above the natural sub-soil suggests that the site has been used for horticultural purposes in the past. Documentary evidence suggests that the surrounding buildings were linked with agricultural land use in the 17th and 18th centuries and local tradition suggests market gardening in the 20th century. Above this material c. 0.50m of modern dumped material was recorded.
• P0691 St Leonard's Hospice, 185 Tadcaster Road
  Natural deposits were encountered c. 1.1m - 1.7m below the ground surface. Evidence of post-medieval agricultural use of the site was found together with that of clay and gravel quarrying in the late medieval and post medieval periods. Modern dumps were associated with the construction of the St Leonard's Hospice building.
• P0669 3 Avenue Terrace, Clifton
  A number of trenches dug to underpin the walls of 3 Avenue Terrace were observed. Natural deposits were observed to be overlain by a soil which was interpreted as medieval plough soil which was sealed by modern top soil.
• P0656 Styring House Farm, Great Givendale
  A short length of ditch was exposed during groundworks, which may have been a boundary ditch of a field system. Pottery recovered from the ditch suggested that it was contemporary with the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age earthwork, Grimthorpe Hill Fort.
• P0633 Former Old Priory Youth Club, 2a Nunnery Lane
  Deposits to the north-eastern end of the site were interpreted as relating to the medieval town ditch. Waterlain silts were sealed by a later medieval organic dump, which was subsequently sealed by a late medieval or early post-medieval levelling deposit. A modern garden soil then raised the ground surface to its present (post-demolition height). Deposits to the south-east of the site were found to be shallower, natural being found at only 2.5m from the surface. Archaeological deposits here probably related to agricultural activity from the Roman to the medieval periods.