York Archaeology Online Collections

Items

• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 18
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 16
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 15
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 14
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 13
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 12
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0647 Hungate Development (Phase 3)
  2000.1-14 YORYM, is the composite site code for the Hungate Development; 14 individual codes. The archaeological investigation in advance of the major redevelopment scheme in the Hungate area of York involved desk-top study, borehole and engineering test pit analysis and trial excavation. See 1999.253 YORYM for phases 1 and 2. The archaeological evaluation involved the excavation of 14 trenches. Well-preserved organic deposits were recorded at depth in a large number of the investigative trenches and engineering holes. Evidence for a possible natural ridge extending south from the modern street, The Stonebow, towards the River Foss was also recorded as well as a possible natural valley or stream that flanked the south-west side of Hungate. This may have continued in use into the medieval period as a King’s Drain or perimeter ditch for the Carmelite Friary. In all but one of the trenches a sequence of deposits which dated from the Roman period to the present day was recorded. The features which were dated to the Roman period included a sandstone structure which may have been a culvert or a wall, a grave, a cobble surface associated with a ditch, possibly part of the Roman road leading from the south eastern gate of the fortress, and a number of pits and evidence of dumping in the River Foss. A cobble surface of the Anglian period and a number of contemporary dump deposits were located close to the northern edge of the site. Evidence of timber buildings fronting Hungate in the Anglo-Scandinavian period was found, with rubbish pits and dumping in the area to the rear of these buildings. Occupation in Hungate continued into the medieval period and the area to the east of the street appears to have remained open and was used for dumping and horticulture. The northern limits of the King's Fishpool were established. Evidence of two ecclesiastical buildings was recovered. Excavation revealed burials within the graveyard of the medieval parish church of St John in the Marsh together with possible remains of the church building. Structural elements, pits and dumps which were thought to relate to the Carmelite Friary included a substantial stone wall built in the 13th century which was interpreted as part of major terracing operation. Post medieval deposits included evidence of terraced houses, horticulture and industrial activity. Following the demolition of the parish church and the Dissolution of the Carmelite Friary, part of the site became open ground which was reflected in the build up of horticultural soil and dumps which sealed medieval features. A series of road surfaces thought to represent Hungate were also encountered. A dump of relatively clean material was thought to have related to the canalisation of the Foss. The remains of 19th century housing, some of it cellared, were found in most of the excavated trenches. These buildings were cleared in the 1930s and the site was occupied by buildings which were used for light industry. A territorial army depot and an ambulance depot were also constructed on the site. This development had truncated post medieval deposits over part of the site.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 33
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 11
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 1
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development. See P0647.
• 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.
• P0693 Acomb Grange, Grange Lane
  The excavation of an electricity cable trench revealed limited evidence of medieval and post medieval activity. A possible ditch was tentatively interpreted as a part of the western side of the moat which surrounded the medieval grange.
• P0676 Edenvaar, Burnby Lane, Hayton
  A single archaeological feature, probably a narrow ditch, was seen to cut into natural sands and gravels. The very limited dating evidence indicates a Roman or later date for this feature. Overlying deposits consisted of a build-up of what may be aeolian (wind blown) sands sealed by the extant topsoil.
• P0607 Primitive Methodist Chapel, rear of 3 Little Stonegate
  The excavations show that beneath the ‘Primitive Methodist Chapel Cottage’ cellar, deep well stratified archaeological deposits survived. The earliest evidence for settlement included a linear ditch or gully aligned north-east to south-west, and a stake-hole alignment or fence line. These may all be of late Iron Age date and would therefore form the first evidence for prehistoric occupation within the area enclosed by the Roman Legionary Fortress. These were sealed by a thick layer of turf which was not distrubed until the construction of Roman timber barracks on the site. This building was demolished and the area levelled. This may have created a large open area within the fortress, such as a parade ground, compound or yard. The surface of this was patched over the area of the subsiding Iron Age ditch or gully and a shallow scoop or pit was excavated, perhaps for the disposal of rubbish or cess. Subsequently a road was constructed along with a second timber barracks which was thought to have been dismantled at the beginning of the 2nd century. It was superseded by a stone barracks. Several phases of modification to this building were recorded and a long series of successive exterior surfaces was found between the barrack blocks. These were interleaved with several accumulation, trampling and occupation deposits, the latter showing signs of scorching. The internal area appears to have been kept scrupulously clean and level throughout the time period in which the external surfaces built-up. The internal arrangement of the buildings was modified over time and metalled paths were laid out. A small area of metalling internal to a barracks may indicate it was used for stabling. In the first half of the 3rd century the barrack block apppears to have been partially burnt down. Various modifications were carried out to the building and a large latrine pit was found to belong to this period. In the 2nd half of the 3rd century a major rebuilding of structures took place on site along with new paths. Occupation of the buildings, which underwent further alterations, continued until the beginning of the 5th century. A series of mixed demolition and manure deposits then built up over the whole area. A thick homogenous deposit was either dumped or accumulated over the whole trench area. This was interpreted as an accumulation of manure, mixed with a small amount of earlier demolition material, cess and domestic rubbish. The area was interpreted as having been part of a farmyard at this point, perhaps including livestock pens. The earliest Anglo-Scandinavian feature was a pit or rubbish pit dated to the 9th or early 10th century Its backfill was later truncated by a second pit which contained demolition or clearance material. A garderobe was found to be backfilled with a number of deposits, clearly of manure, or foul waste origin, some of which contained pottery dateable to the 10th or 11th century. The area appreared to be in the back yard of a property during this period and this function continued through the medieval period. A number of pits and dumps were dated to this period. In the post medieval period the area was crossed by two fence lines perhaps erected to divide up the area into properties. This boundary fence appears to have been replaced by a brick built boundary wall or wall to a property behind Little Stonegate. A number of deep 18th century walls, the construction cut for a late 18th or early 19th century cellar for the “Methodist Chapel Cottage”, as well as the 19th century construction cut for the Primitive Methodist Chapel then, disturbed the area. A number of 20th century service trenches were also encountered.
• P0587 Land off Ousegate, Selby
  The earliest feature observed above the natrual sub soil was a substantial ditch which may have had a defensive function and appeared to have been cleaned and well maintained before it became redundant. The fills of the ditch were dated to the 2nd or 3rd century and were followed by a series of episodes of levelling. Another ditch of Roman date ran at right angles to the larger ditch and was interpreted as a boundary or drainage ditch. This ditch was also backfilled and this action was followed by evidence of levelling. Ocupation deposits and a foundation for a building of uncertain date were recorded. Dumps dating from the 12th century were found to be cut by pits and ditches. Industrial waste, incuding waste form metal working had been disposed of in some of these features. There was abundant evidence of medieval building and occupation and it appeared that the medieval boundaries had continued to be respected by a succesion of buildings into the post medieval period. Buildings dating to the 17th/18th century, some with cellars occupied the site.
• 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.
• P0513 York Castle Car Park, off Tower Street
  Seven boreholes were observed in this area, four of which encountered structural obstructions which were interpreted as likely to have been parts of the walls or foundations of the Victorian prison. In two of the boreholes organic silty deposits and a series of clays and silts were recorded. These boreholes may have been sampling material from the castle ditch and/or from within the river system of the Foss.
• P0435 4 Monkgate
  Natural deposits were observed approximately 2m below ground surface. A ditch, with a fill containing small mammal bones may have been of Roman or medieval date. Material above this was mainly levelling and the make-up of the modern surface.
• P0445 Park and Ride, land off Shipton Road
  The shallow nature of topsoil, and extensive modern ploughing ensured that no deposits or features of archaeological significance remained on the site. Bases of some features were tentatively dated to the Roman and medieval periods, but little interpretation of these can be made.
• P0401 Field to the south of Prospect Cottage (Yorkshire Water Pipeline, Moor Monkton to Elvington)
  Shallow V shaped ditches were revealed. These were interpreted as part of a late Iron Age field system. At least on major change in the layout of this system was identified.
• P0401 Field at Thorntree Hill (Yorkshire Water Pipeline, Moor Monkton to Elvington)
  The deposits recorded on this site were the ploughed out remains of road metalling, and the cuts and fills of ditches on each side of the road. Additionally there was a surface spread of ploughed soil. The road, of Roman date, appeared to link York, to the west to Stamford Bridge, to the east. Well preserved environmental deposits within the ditch fills suggest that settlement was in close association with the road, but no evidence for this was encountered within the excavated area.
• P0401 Rawcliffe Moor (Yorkshire Water Pipeline, Moor Monkton to Elvington)
  A settlement of Iron Age date was encountered on this site. It comprised a series of circular enclosures, interpreted as hut circles. Larger ditches were found which appeared to delineate the settlement.
• P0385 Bootham School
  A path or lane running north-east from Bootham was found, and a small ditch was encountered which appeared to run along the line of the path. The path was medieval in date, the ditch did not contain any datable material. There was a build-up over the path of late medieval date. A demolished post-medieval brick wall was also found. A follow-up watching brief did not observe any archaeolgical features
• P0283 Land to the rear of St Andrewgate/Spen Lane
  Excavations reached a maximum depth of 1.80m below ground surface. The earliest deposits excavated dated to the 12th century. These comprised a surface and build-up above it in the western part of the site, probably representing a period of neglect. The first indications of a building fronting St Andrewgate were the remains of a floor and an internal division. These dated to the 13th century. A timber fence line and dumped material including stable manure also dated to this period. In the later 13th/early 14th century over a widespread area material was allowed to accumulate and dumped prior to the renewal of structural activity. At the western end of the excavation two adjacent buildings fronting St Andrewgate were identified. A deliberate levelling of the whole area occurred in the 14th century. Domestic refuse was dumped and disposed of in pits. Further building, either two adjacent buildings or one divided building, fronting St Andrewgate, was identified, following similar alignments to earlier properties. The occupation of the building(s) continued through the 15th century and was represented by hearths, a series of floors and internal building divisions. Part of the building was used as an industrial workshop. Mould fragments suggested the casting of metal, and hammer scale indicated the use of an anvil. A pit feature may have acted as a quenching pit. Numerous internal alterations were made to the buildings though the medieval period. To the rear of these buildings a ditch was identified dating from the late 15th / early 16th century. It may have acted as a property boundary, or an open sewer, although its fill gives no evidence of this function and it appeared to have been deliberately backfilled in one operation. Pits were found in the area behind the buildings and suggest the relatively intensive use of the "backland" area for the disposal of rubbish, although traces of a structure in the form of beam slots were also identified in this area. In the mid 16th century a mortar and tile floor was introduced in the building fronting St Andrewgate which sealed the possible quenching pit. A cess pit or soak-away also dated to this period. Metal-working waste was found in an area which may have been the backyard of the re-organised building. Further structural alterations were made, including a substantial re-build of the building. Foundations which may have been the base for a sill beam supporting a timber-framed building were revealed. At some point after this alteration metal working was again carried out within the building. Occupation of the building continued through the 16th century and was represented by a series of mortar floors and hearths. In the area behind the property there was a rough uneven yard surface, evidence of pit digging, and a property boundary defined by a series of post-holes, which were replaced by a later series. In the late 17th/early 18th century these were backfilled and a widespread levelling deposit covered the eastern part of the site. Alterations and occupation of the building fronting St Andrewgate continued through the post-medieval period. A stone-lined well was encountered near the St Andrewgate frontage. In the modern period the area was occupied by a chemical factory, a building suppliers and a scrap yard. Watching Briefs : Timber building and road surfaces were observed in contractor's trenches in St Andrewgate, and demonstrated that in the Anglo-Scandinavian or medieval period St Andrewgate was narrower than the modern road. A medieval wattle-lined pit and a cobble surface were observed during a watching brief which confirmed that the area towards Spen Lane was open land to the rear of properties fronting St Andrewgate. A well was found which was similar to the one found within the main excavation. The watching brief carried out while pile holes were excavated collected evidence of mortared limestone structures and cobbles and clay c. 3-4m below the ground surface which were intepereted as likely to have derived from buildings and occupation dating from the Roman period. A horizon of organic deposits across the site probably represented evidence of Anglo-Scandinavian occupation. Deposits from the medieval period encountered during the piling were seen to be similar to those recorded more fully during the excavation and derived from street front occupation of St Andrewgate and Spen Lane together with the development of gardens and yards with associated dumping of domestic and industrial waste behind in both the medieval and post medieval periods.