York Archaeology Online Collections

Items

• P5752 Archaeology Live! All Saints Church, North Street
• 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.
• P5508 71-73 Goodramgate
  A two-trench evaluation at 71-73 Goodramgate revealed extensive midden deposits of 13th century date at 2m BGL/14.30m AOD. A 14th century building with evidence for 16th century demolition and alteration was found, along with evidence for the disposal of local metal working waste from the 15th century into the post medieval period. An 18th/19th century clearance truncated these remains, which were sealed beneath extensive 19th century ground make-up deposits. The lowest midden deposits were waterlogged and contained organic remains with an extremely good level of preservation. Subsequent boreholes revealed a further 3.25m of deposits overlying natural at 5m BGL/c.11.10m AOD.
• P0818 Cable Trench, Kent Street
  Archaeological remains encountered consisted of a number of articulated human skeletons at the base of the contractor's trench, together with quantities of disarticulated human bone. These burials are believed to relate to the churchyard of the long demolished medieval church of All Saints, Fishergate. Deposits elsewhere in the trench were of modern date.
• 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.
• P0803 Water Pipe Trench, Junction of Priory Street and Bishophill Junior
  Examination of a small trench close to the junction of Priory Street and Bishophill Junior revealed a stone wall, surviving within 0.32m of the ground surface and aligned south-west – north-east. The materials used in the construction of this wall suggest the likelihood of a medieval origin. The wall exactly follows the course of the parish boundary that separated Holy Trinity Priory from that of St Mary Bishophill Junior. It has been suggested that this parish boundary demarcated the south-eastern limits of the medieval Holy Trinity Priory and there is a strong possibility that the uncovered wall may have formed part of the boundary wall of the medieval Priory.
• P0720 War Memorial, Station Road
  A limestone block, possibly of Roman date, was recovered from the backfill of a modern brick built cable insection chamber. No deposits of archaeological interest were encountered.
• P0714 145 Mount Vale
  A human inhumation dating to the 3rd century was disturbed by a contractor's trench and was subsequently archaeologically recorded.
• 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.
• P0772 NCP Car Park, 64-76 Skeldergate
  Eight boreholes and three trial pits were observed, and well preserved organic deposits were recorded in all of the boreholes and one of the trial pits. The deposits were dated from the Roman to the medieval periods. Evidence of natural terraces lying parallel to the River Ouse was noted. These terraces had been enhanced with thick levelling deposits in the Roman period and there was evidence that substantial Roman buildings may have stood on these terraces. In addition there appears to have been a valley along the north west side of the area indicating the presence of a tributary stream that ran down to the River Ouse. Further deep, complex and well stratified deposits were encountered in all nine evaluation trenches and included waterlogged organic remains. Very intensive occupation of the site was recorded for the period 11th-15th/16th centuries. Deposits related to structural remains of buildings fronting Skeldergate together with back yards where pit digging and dumping had occurred.
• P0652 York Central Library, Museum Street
  Deposits in a narrow trench on the south western side of Library Square were observed to a depth of c. 0.50m below ground level. They were interpreted as having been disturbed by modern service trenches.
• P0617 1 Middlethorpe Cottages, Bishopthorpe Road
  A watching brief observed that natural deposits occurred c. 0.50m - 0.80m below ground surface in this area and this suggested the truncation of archaeological material may have occurred when Middlethorpe Cottages were built (in the later 19th century). However a layer of cobbling may have related to an earlier building on the site. The tile assemblage with a date range of 13th - 16th century suggests activity on the site which could relate to the nearby manor house.
• P0558 Waterfront House, Terry Avenue
  Brickwork observed in the course of this watching brief was interpreted a part of a warehouse shown on the 1937 OS map.
• P0622 42-48 Micklegate
  Observations of a contractor's drain trench to the rear of the property indicated that modern service trenches and other modern activity had truncated deposits here although beyond the eastern end of the trench there was some evidence for the post medieval foundations of the extant 18th century building.
• P0621 Bar Convent, Blossom Street
  A watching brief was carried out when foundation trenches for an extension to the kitchen of the Bar Convent were dug. Within these trenches much of the stratigraphy had been destroyed by modern service trenches but in situ deposits relating to agricultural and horticultural activity in the medieval and post medieval periods were recorded.
• P0588 Keesberry Cottage, Cawood
  Natural sub soil was observed beneath c. 0.35m depth of top soil and no archaeological finds or features were encountered.
• P0501 Sewer Repair adjacent to 37 Micklegate
  A watching brief was carried out in the course of a sewer repair, and although most deposits had been truncated by a series of service trench cuts, there was a small area of undisturbed material c. 1.30m below ground which comprised a silty deposit containing charcoal and the occasional oyster shell.
• P0500 Sewer Repair adjacent to 54 Micklegate
  A watching brief was carried out in the course of a sewer repair. A series of disused service trenches were recorded and natural clay was observed at a depth of c. 3.30m below ground. No significant archaeological deposits were observed.
• P0463 Sewer Repair adjacent to 72 Low Petergate
  Natural was recorded at 4.50m below ground surface, c.11.75m OD. A 0.40m deposit of compact gravel was interpreted as the make-up of the Via Principalis. Immediately above it was a dumped deposit including limestone and tile. At a higher level large limestone blocks and some Millstone Grit blocks were encountered and interpreted as a late Roman re-laying of the Via Principalis. Layers of build-up and dumped material were found above the road surface. Approximately 1m below ground surface cobbled surfaces were recorded, and probably represent successive medieval street surfaces.
• P0472 Sewer Repair adjacent to 97 Low Petergate
  Part of a limestone wall with clay and cobble foundations was observed at a depth of 2.90m below ground surface in a contractor's trench. It dated to the Roman period. Above this structure demolition deposits were recorded. Organic material probably representing Anglo-Scandinavian or medieval activity was observed. Modern service trench backfill was observed to a depth of 1.40m below ground surface at which point a cobble surface was seen. This may represent an earlier, possibly medieval, road surface.
• P0469 Sewer Repair adjacent to 59 Low Petergate
  Modern service trench backfill was observed at a depth of 3m below ground surface and no further observations were carried out.
• P0468 Sewer Repair adjacent to 93 Low Petergate
  A deposits of limestone fragments were observed in a contractor's trench and interpreted as a Roman road. It was located at 4m below ground surface, c.13.90m OD. A dump of demolition material derived from a Roman building was also observed. Organic material was seen and modern service trench backfill cut a cobbled surface layer which is likely to have represented a medieval road surface.
• P0467 Sewer Repair adjacent to 70 Low Petergate
  Stratified deposits dating from the Roman to the modern period were observed in a contractor's trench. A cobbled surface interpreted as a Roman road was seen at a depth of 4m below ground surface. Above it was a build-up deposit, sealed by a dump of irregular limestone fragments. Above this was 0.60m of organic material which included leather off-cuts and twigs which probably dated to the Anglo-Scandinavian period. Two layers of cobbling, which probably represented earlier road surfaces, were observed at approximately 1.50m and 2.0m below ground surface. Modern service trench backfill was seen to a depth of 1.50m below ground surface.
• P0466 Sewer Repair adjacent to 81 Low Petergate
  Layers of cobbling and gravel representing Roman road surfaces were observed at a depth of 4m below ground surface, 13.25m OD, in a contractor's trench. Above these, organic material, containing leather off-cuts probably represented activity dating to the Anglo-Scandinavian period. Modern service trench backfill had truncated earlier deposits.
• P0441 Sewer Repair, 47 Goodramgate
  The earliest deposits derived from the demolition of a Roman building, and were thought to date to the Anglo-Scandinavian period. A build-up deposit and approximately 1m depth of material which was identified as garden soil were also thought to date to this period. The make-up of the first surface of Goodramgate is likely to date to the 11th century, suggesting that Goodramgate was an element in the Anglo-Scandinavian street plan, in the former fortress.