York Historic Environment Record

Result: Prior to archaeological monitoring commencing, the area had been cleared and levelled for the construction of new housing (Figure 2). A hardcore surface and access roadway had also been constructed. Where topsoil remained it was found to be heavily contaminated with waste oil and burnt rubbish. The monitored excavations comprised two trenches, measuring 1.60m wide and 2.5m deep, and two pits for manholes, 3m square and 2.5m deep. The first trench extended for 25m in a south-easterly direction from a new manhole connecting with an existing corrugated steel water conduit carrying Burr Dyke beneath the street. A second manhole pit was excavated, and then the trench continued on a north-easterly direction for 32m to a connection in an existing manhole. The excavations revealed that the ground had been greatly disturbed by previous groundworks for the new housing development. No prehistoric or Roman features were identified, and the only observed artefacts comprised an oyster shell and partial animal jawbone, which were not retained.