York Archaeological Trust
This site represents a valuable resource for the understanding of past human activity in a little-known area of York. Sealed by 20th-century deposits are 19th-century deposits up to 1.Om thick, representing. intense residential and industrial activity. However, the preservation of environmental and other organic remains is poor, and compared to other deposits on the site, these are considered to be of low priority. Similarly, the later post-medieval garden soil and levelling dumps are of little importance.
The 16th-century rubbish dumps, on the other hand, contained a wide range of artefacts, including a large number of ??incomplete leather shoes, a variety of metal objects, and a wealth of environmental data, all in an excellent state of preservation; there was also a good pottery assemblage. These deposits would provide a great deal of information on life in 16th-century York. Such well-preserved deposits of this date have not been found in York before, and any threat to them would necessitate appropriate archaeological investigation and sampling.
The medieval revetment and possible associated structures, along with any deposits, artefacts and environmental data related to activity on the quayside, are also unique in York; they would require detailed archaeological excavation and recording. The suspected earlier medieval dumps of waste into the King's Fishpool would require the same thorough attention recommended for those of the 16th century.
The evaluation has not identified deposits pre-dating the medieval period. However, as the site appears to have been dry land prior to the creation of the King's Fishpool, evidence of riverside activity along the River Foss is to be expected. Probable Roman riverside structures have been found nearby, on both sides of the River Foss. It has also been suggested that the Anglian settlement at York, Eoforwic, was concentrated along the riverbanks. Any evidence of riverside activity at this site would therefore be of great importance, warranting appropriate archaeological excavation and recording if threatened.
The site may be on the line of the Roman road that ran south-east from the legionary fortress on the other side of the River Foss; consequently. remains of either a timber bridge over the Roman river, or roadside activity where the road was on dry land, or both might be present. This would also be of considerable importance, requiring thorough archaeological investigation.
The site has great potential in terms of understanding the regime of the River Foss. The evaluation has provided tantalising clues as to the position of the River Foss prior to the medieval period, the original extent of the King's Fishpool, and the reclamation of land from the Fishpool. The waterlogging of much of the post-medieval, and all of any earlier deposits, would result in the preservation of organic material (including structural timbers from waterfronts, bridges, or any other timber constructions) and provide a wide range of environmental evidence, thus increasing the value of the site as an archaeological resource.
The site is relatively undisturbed, no more than the very eastern corner having been affected by the deep foundations of the Anglo-Hungarian roller mills (Fig. 1). In view of this, and the considerable archaeological potential of the site, preservation of the deposits in situ should be given high priority; but if this proves impossible, appropriate examination and recording of the archaeological remains threatened by any development is required.