York Archaeology Online Collections

Items

• P0638 14 Skeldergate
  Three boreholes and six test pits demonstrated that archaeological deposits on the site survived to a height of c. 1m - 1.50m below ground surface. Sandy silts deposited in the medieval period were recorded in two of the test pits. Brick walls, probably of 19th century date, were also encountered. A watching brief observed the excavation of thirteen trenches dug to underpin a wall of a property to the southern edge of the site together with a series of pile trenches. In these trenches there was evidence that an undisturbed sequence of deposits dating from the Roman, Anglo-Scandinavian and medieval periods survived on the site. The quality of evidence recoverable from pile trenches was compromised by the method of excavation. Little dating evidence was recoverable and it was difficult to make comparisons between the stratigraphy in each pile trench. Since the quality and archaeological potential of these deposits had already been established by evaluation work carried out in 1991 it is surprising that only a watching brief with limited recording was specified as the requirement for this site. Timbers driven in to the upper surface of natural sands were observed to be sealed by layers of laminated clays and cobbles possibly representing surfaces. These are likely to date from the Roman period. Anglo-Scandinavian pottery was recovered from some of the material interpreted as occupation deposits but it was not possible to determine the scale of activity in this period. Deep deposits of organic build -up were dated to the medieval period. Two massive limestone walls were recorded. The exact relationship between the two walls was not possible to determine due to disturbance from the piling operations, but they were bonded with identical mortar indicating they had formed parts of the same structure which could have been a riverside building or a series of retaining walls. Part of the wall aligned east west had already been excavated in 1991 and was founded on a raft of horizontal timbers and dated to the 12th-early 13th century. Deposits accumulated to the north of the wall indicated intensive occupation, and comprised a culvert and a series of dumps. Those to the south of the wall represented a series of build-up deposits. Further walls were recorded and interpreted as internal walls of a separate structure. A substantial wall was built directly above this second structure and this wall was interpreted as the eastern wall of a riverside building, possibly a warehouse. A series of sand deposits dating to the 13th -14th century sealed all the structural elements. Further dumps were recorded and appeared to derive from demolition sources. A hearth and floors together with a robbed wall indicated continued occupation of the area. In the 14th-15th century there was a change in the type of hearth constructed on the site. Four almost identical circular brick lined ovens or furnaces were constructed and suggest industrial activity. Structural elements and occupation deposits continued to be represented into the 15th-16th century. Relatively little post medieval material was recorded on the site and any found was on the lower terrace of the site. A number of brick cellars or cellar infills were seen across the site and dated to the 19th or 20th century.
• P0608 13-17 New Street
  Medieval deposits dating to the 11th-13th centuries were recorded in one of four excavated trenches. Some of this material was waterlogged and included rich organic remains and was interpreted as occuring in an area of garden or back yard. A timber found at the lowest level was thought to have been a sill beam for a small wooden structure such as a shed or outhouse. Post medieval demolition debris was recorded as having been used to raise the ground surface by between 1 - 1.50m and intensive modern activity had destroyed most of the post medieval deposits.
• 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.
• A0746 Parliament Street Sewer Repair 2
  An organic deposit was observed 0.60m below ground surface under modern material.
• A0670 12 King Street and 2 Cumberland Street
  Timber piles were observed at a depth of 2.90m below ground level. They were sealed by organic deposits, above which was a series of floor surfaces along with an associated limestone wall with a plastered face. This was sealed by approximately 1m depth of modern levelling.
• A0667 Skeldergate, Queen's Staith Road, Queen's Staith
  Boreholes showed the presence of at least 8m of archaeological deposits. The deposits included much organic build-up.
• A0687 Pavement sewer flue repair 1 [1 Pavement]
  3m depth of Anglo-Scandinavian deposits was observed. A fragment of a human skull was also recovered.
• A0694 Parliament Street sewer repair
  Organic build-up of 3m depth was observed below the modern road make-up. A layer of cobbles, possibly a Roman road, was observed as the base of the contractor's trench, some 3.30m below ground surface.
• A0636 7-13 Clifford Street boreholes
  Modern deposits, undated organic material and natural deposits were recorded in borehole cores.
• A0354 26 Coppergate (rear of)
  The wall and timber foundation piles for a building were recorded approximately 1.40m below ground surface to the rear of the standing property. Pottery dating to the 12th-13th century was recorded.
• A0321 5 Castlegate (Little John PH)
  Organic Anglo-Scandinavian deposits were observed during the enlargement of a cellar from which a bone skate was recovered.
• A0181 Piccadilly Car Park
  Ten borehole cores were examined. Above the natural clay various silts, including organic silts, were observed.
• A0080 Sun Alliance, 30 Coney Street
  An organic soil was observed in a contractor's trench.
• P0788 41-49 Walmgate
  The area investigated formed part of the Walmgate street frontage and the associated backyards. Excavations with Time Team Live involved reopening an evaluation trench excavated in 1990 (1990.26) and extending it eastwards. Two post and wattle walls found were interpreted as belonging to adjacent buildings fronting Walmgate and dated to the Anglo Scandinavian period. Organic preservation in deposits from this period was good. Elements of late medieval and post medieval buildings were recorded including a hearth. Four test pits were excavated for engineering purposes and were recorded archaeologically. In these, deposits from the early post medieval period were recorded close to the existing ground surface. Elements of medieval or early post medieval buildings were identified. Underpinning work on the modern building occupied by a shop, together with service trenches, were also recorded. A larger scale excavation in 2000-2001 recorded a sequence of occupation from the Anglo Scandinavian through to the post medieval period. Timber buildings dating from the 10th to the 13th century were revealed to have been followed by a sequence of timber framed buildings dating from the 14th to the 20th century. Evidence of a 300 year history of metalworking, copper alloy casting and smithing, on this site was also found.
• A0625 Dundas Street, NEEB HQ
  In each trench considerable 19th century disturbance had destroyed most traces of earlier activity on this site adjacent to the River Foss. A series of boreholes demonstrated that levels with well-preserved organic remains were present over a considerable part of the site. The environmental evidence examined suggests that they originated from dumping and the deposition took place in shallow, slow flowing water such as would be found close to the margins of the King's Fishpool.
• A0689 Pavement Sewer Flue Repair 2 [22 Pavement]
  Anglo-Scandinavian deposits of 3m depth were recorded.
• A0279 General Accident, 24-30 Tanner Row
  The earliest Roman feature, dating to c.125-150, was a drainage cut. Beside it was a turf and loam platform on which timber buildings were erected. One substantial building had front and rear walls of squared posts set in pits to which horizontal planks were nailed. Cross-walls were based on socketed sleeper-beams. Rectangular bases of millstone grit stood beside the walls, possibly having supported a floor. Outside was a plank-lined drain, also a cobble surface was found immediately above natural clay. Above this were found organic silts; then a cambered cobble surface, perhaps a yard or a road. This was sealed by a deep build-up of organic material, including horse manure. These deposits were superseded in the 2nd century by a stone building, set at right angles to the nearby Roman Street. The building was founded on clay and cobble footings above deep timber piles and may have been substantial enough to have served as a public building. In a parallel building a length of plaster wall and a bench were found. The large late Roman colonia buildings were robbed in the 10th century. Contemporary occupation is indicated in the vicinity. Occupation resumed in the 12th century and a sequence of pits, and occupation deposits suggest intensive occupation through until the 15th century.