York Historic Environment Record

An archaeological watching brief was carried out by On-Site Archaeology Ltd., in July 2015 on works associated with the construction of basement extensions and new garages on land to the rear of Numbers 36 and 37, St. Marys, York. The archaeological investigation undertaken to the rear of Number 36 St Marys revealed two northwest to southeast orientated graves that while undated are believed to date from the Romano-British period. These graves were not impacted up by the development and were therefore preserved in-situ. The re-development at the rear of Number 37 St Marys impacted upon two northwest to southeast orientated inhumations the fills of which contained pottery sherds dating to the Romano-British period. These were recorded, excavated and removed as they were above the finished floor level of the construction work. One of these graves cut a Romano-British ditch that remained largely unexcavated. Following osteological analysis of the skeletal remain they were returned to the site and reburied beneath the Roman stone coffin lid located at the extreme northwest end of the garden. The excavation for foundation slabs for the two garages did not penetrate the existing garden soil so no further archaeological remains were exposed or disturbed.