York Archaeology Online Collections

Items

• 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.
• P5524 Sewer trench, outside 22 Aldwark, York
  It became quickly evident that most of the archaeology within the trench had been removed by the insertion of the original sewer and subsequent repairs to it. However, by good fortune a north-eastward extension of the trench to enable the insertion of concrete support and inspection rings did expose a small, c.2m x 0.7m, area of surviving archaeological stratigraphy, although even here the upper 1.5m had been destroyed by modern activity. The results, however, were most significant. Contexts 1014 and 1016 were both thought to be Roman road surfaces although 1016 had been partially removed by modern intrusions. Inspection of Context 1014 determined that even in the small section available there was a very distinct camber with the central part being up to 0.1m higher than either observed end. One end was completely destroyed by a modern drain and the other end went beyond the south-east limit of the trench, thus it was not possible to gain any reliable estimate for the width of this road. A number of Roman roads have been recorded in the immediate area and examination of the published record (Brinklow et al, 1986, 32-40) made it very clear that the road seen in this trench was a south-westward extension of one seen in the early 1970s during excavations at 21-33 Aldwark with both projected alignment and depth of the road corresponding. It is therefore very likely that this was a brief and tantalising glimpse of a Roman road running outside and roughly parallel to the south-east wall of the Legionary Fortress. Unfortunately safety and operational considerations meant that no detailed work could be done on the surfaces and no dating evidence was recovered. The road was well built, however, and this may well indicate a date in the 2nd or 3rd century which was be broadly consistent with the roads seen at 21-33 Aldwark. The results of this modest watching brief means that a considerable length of extra mural fortress road can now be added to the map of Roman York with confidence and demonstrates the value of undertaking watching briefs.
• P5372 Utility trench, Bishophill Junior to Fetter Lane, York
  Most of the contexts seen during this watching brief were probably relatively modern in date. The only exceptions would be the possible build-up / levelling deposit, 1008, and old road surface, 1009, seen in Section 3 and even these need be of no great age since there is plentiful photographic evidence of such surfaces surviving well into the 20th century, especially in the less busy roads such as Bishophill Junior and Fetter Lane. Despite the trench passing directly beside the boundary wall of the graveyard of St Mary’s Church, believed to have been larger in the past, no disturbed human bone was noted from the trench at any point and it would thus appear that modern service excavations have not disturbed any burials from the presumed enlarged graveyard in the area of the works. It can therefore be stated that no archaeological remains were disturbed during the current works.
• P5321 St. Dominic’s Crag, Copley Gardens, Sprotbrough, South Yorkshire
  Archaeological observations and records were made during the mechanical removal of topsoil and the demolition of a twentieth-century house during ground-works at Copley Gardens, Sprotbrough. A crude modern road and yard surface were identified and associated with the house, and the underlying soil was thought constitute modern ground raising. The remains of an eighteenth century ice house known to survive beneath the building were monitored during demolition.
• 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.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 25
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 8
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 24
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 20
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 19
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• 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.
• P0651 2 Clifford Street
  Excavation during the lowering of the basement floor revealed deposits which may represent dumping or collapse/accumulation in the late or immediate post-Roman period. They lay below a metalled surface also assumed to be of late or post-Roman date, as its alignment was contrary to the medieval (and assumed Anglo-Scandinavian) street pattern. Partially preserved Anglo-Scandinvian wattle fences aligned parallel and at 90 degrees to King Street (medieval Cargate) were sealed by a series of dumped slightly organic deposits. Further fence -lines were sealed by dumped domestic refuse of Anglo-Scandinavian date.
• P0730 Yorkshire Water Ducting, Station Road, York
  Modern road make-up deposits were observed to a depth of c. 0.40m below ground surface in a contractor's trench. Beneath this level in situ archaeological deposits were identified but could not be defined or dated.
• P0725 Council Depot, Foss Islands Road
  Eleven machine excavated test-pits were monitored and natural deposits were encountered at a range of heights between 6.20m - 8.65m AOD. Sharp localised changes in the level of natural are likely to have been the result of pits dug for clay extraction associated with brickyards that occupied the site in the 19th century and before. Extensive deposits of post brickyard 19th century refuse were found to cover the whole site and in places this material was more the 2.50m thick. These deposits contained structured vegetation suggesting that they may have been in part laid down in waterfilled clay extraction pits. In one, large quantities of exclusively Roman finds were recovered and this may indicate the survival of earlier ground surfaces in areas between clay extraction pits.
• 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.
• 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.