York Historic Environment Record

Evaluation and watching brief An evaluation excavation and watching brief were carried out on this site ahead of proposed development. In all two trenches were excavated both were 3x3 metres in size and sunk to a depth of 1.5 metres below ground level. These excavations revealed that up to a depth of 1.2 metres the buried layers were modern in nature and thought to be as a result of building activity. Trench 1 which was situated in the south eastern end of the development site was sterile archaeologically speaking with only modern building debris being recovered. Trench 2 similarly also contained this debris up to a depth of 1.2 metres. Below this was a layer of soil thought to overlie a layer of ploughsoil which sealed the first archaeological deposits at a depth of 1.5 metres. In the base of this trench a number of features were observed with all but one thought to be medieval in date and interpreted as pits. The date ascribed to these features was due to the fact that sherds of green glazed pottery were recovered from the fill of these features. The other feature contained material which was Roman and appeared to be quite extensive in size from what could be observed at the depth of the trench. The excavator thought that the feature was possibly a ditch but recommended further investigation.