York Historic Environment Record

This report presents the results of a metal detecting survey and archaeological watching brief undertaken in advance of, and during, construction of a c.2km long waste water pipeline as part of the Fulford Rising Main scheme. The pipeline ran from SE 6010 4680 to SE 6030 4950 and was located c.2km to the south of central York. The work took place from December 2010 to March 2011 and was undertaken by Northern Archaeological Associates Ltd. for J.N. Bentley on behalf of Yorkshire Water Services Ltd. Archaeological metal detecting and monitoring were undertaken within three areas of the pipeline easement totalling 770m in length. The metal detecting survey identified artefacts which dated from the Roman to the modern periods. The majority of the more significant finds were recovered from the southernmost area and included a 2nd century Roman enamelled plate brooch and medieval coins, buckles and scabbard chapes. The earliest medieval finds were four short cross pennies dating from AD1180 – AD1247. Monitoring during removal of the topsoil and pipe trenching identified a series of medieval plough furrows and alluvial deposits associated with flooding of the River Ouse. The northernmost of the three areas of archaeological interest occupied land suggested as the site of the Battle of Fulford, 1066. Historical sources state that the main fighting took place along the line of a deep, water-filled ditch adjacent to the River Ouse which has been tentatively identified as Germany Beck. It has also been suggested that the beck has migrated northward to its current position and was located further to the south within the 11th century. Excavations undertaken as part of the current project and adjacent to this water course did not identify any earlier channels or any evidence for its migration northward. This evidence may still exist at a depth greater than the excavations associated with the current project. No finds were recovered that could be dated to the 11th century and which might have been associated with the battlefield.