York Historic Environment Record

Between November 28th and December 9th York Archaeological Trust carried out an evaluation excavation and monitored a borehole survey on land to the rear of 40–48 Monkgate, York. This work was undertaken in advance of the submission of a proposal for redevelopment of the site. In addition to the borehole survey YAT excavated four trenches each 3m x 3m to a maximum nominal depth of 1.25m below the modern ground level. Much of Trench 1 had been heavily disturbed by 19th century structural remains but evidence for medieval agricultural soils was recovered. These agricultural soils were also encountered in Trench 2 where there was some evidence for a possible Roman feature. Below the agricultural soils encountered in Trench 3 were a large number of features including post-holes, a ditch, a gully and two pits or wells which were pottery dated to the Roman period. A number of deposits recorded in this trench were also probably of Roman date. In Trench 4, below modern features, the medieval agricultural soils were again encountered but in this trench a number of features were noted cut into them. No certain Roman features or deposits were noted from this trench.