Plate 1. Burial 8070 during excavation
York Archaeological Trust
Group 2 consists of Trench 8, which was located in the Territorial Army depot car park, close to the Dundas Street frontage. Probe-holes cored in 1999 (Macnab 1999a, 12) predicted a ridge of naturally occurring clay at c.9.01m AOD, very close to the present ground surface of 10.00m AOD. It was also clear that prior to 1976 the ground surface had been at c.11.00m AOD and that approximately 1.00m of deposits had been removed during the construction of the car park.
Trench 8 measured 4m x 2m and was excavated by machine to between 0.25m and 0.75m below the present ground level, which was at c.10.00m AOD. The remaining deposits within the trench were hand excavated to a maximum depth of 1.77m below ground level (8.23m AOD).
The earliest deposit seen, but not fully uncovered across the entire trench, was sticky pink clay (not numbered), which was clearly naturally deposited. The upper surface was at c.9.00m AOD. Above this was compacted pink clay with highly irregular linear bands of mid brown clayey-silt (context 8057), which represents the natural clay disturbed by tree roots and/or burrowing animals. Two sherds of 15th century pottery from context 8057 should be regarded as contamination resulting from these natural processes.
The first phase of human activity in the area was represented by a variety of features which have been grouped together on the basis of the pottery dating, which was Roman. The earliest feature was an inhumation burial, aligned south-west to north-east, in a coffin and grave (contexts 8069-8072). The grave cut was 1.86m in length (context 8072) and contained a supine inhumation 1.38m in length with the hands across the groin area (context 8070). The bones were so badly preserved that it was difficult to determine the age or sex of the individual concerned, but the size of the skeleton implied that it was a child. The coffin had left a thin stain 1.66m long and 0.23m wide (context 8071) and the grave was infilled with a mixed deposit of pink clay and mid brown silty clay containing 2/3rd century pottery (context 8069). Cutting into burial 8069-8072 was a bath shaped cut 1.60m in length and in excess of 0.70m wide, which was backfilled with compacted silty-clays (contexts 8054, 8032, 8050 and 8051). One of the fills, context 8051, contained a single sherd of Roman pottery. The exact function of this cut is unclear; however, it may be a grave cut (see Interpretation, below).
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Plate 1. Burial 8070 during excavation |
A number of small pits and structural features containing Roman pottery, some of which post dated the cuts described above, were located across the trench. No pattern could be determined within these features, but some clearly formed elements of timber structures. Context 8068 was a badly truncated pit infilled with moderately compacted sandy clay dated as 2/3rd century from associated pottery (context 8063). Above context 8063 was a severely truncated, slightly curving, slot cut 0.30m wide, with three stake holes in the base (context 8065) which was clearly part of a structure - possibly a fence. Context 8065 was subsequently infilled with friable grey-yellow silty-clay which contained a single sherd of Roman pottery and 1st-4th century brick (context 8062). Sealing context 8062 was a deposit of friable grey-brown silty-clay containing Roman pottery and brick, which was so severely truncated that its original function is unclear (context 8060). Context 8067 was a sub-rectangular cut, largely outside the area of excavation, with a highly uneven base. It is possible that some of the indentations in the base were stake/post-holes, again suggesting a structural function. Cut 8067 was backfilled with orange brown silty-clay containing Roman pottery and brick (context 8066). Context 8066 also contained a single charred barley seed and some other unidentified cereal grains. Contexts 8064, 8061, 8049 and 8048 were a severely truncated circular post-hole 0.47m deep and 0.42m in diameter, with an associated post-void and two backfills with Roman brick fragments. Above both 8061 and 8066 was a small sub-rectangular pit (context 8056) which was infilled with red-brown silty-clay with Roman pottery and brick (context 8053).
This phase comprised a gully and a post hole. Context 8037 was a linear gully with very steep sides and a rounded eastern end (the western end was beyond the limits of excavation). The cut was infilled with pink-brown silty-clay (context 8036), which contained 9/10th century pottery and a counter made from residual Roman glazed pottery (which is rare both nationally and locally). Above context 8036 was a badly truncated circular post-hole, 0.10m in diameter (context 8035) which was infilled with grey-brown clay-silt (context 8034).
Context 8044 and 8059 were undated small rectangular post-holes, infilled with grey silty-clays (contexts 8045 and 8058 respectively). The phasing of these post-holes is uncertain; they could be placed in either Phase 2 or 3.
The next phase of activity on the site consisted of the excavation of pits. The earliest of these pits was a shallow sub-rectangular cut, largely outside the area of excavation (context 8055) which was backfilled with pink-brown silty clays and dated as 10th century by associated pottery (contexts 8052 and 8047). What was thought at the time of excavation to be an irregular cut (context 8046) probably represents the slumping of contexts 8052/8047 into pit 8055. Above context 8046 was a dump or build up of mid brown silty-clay (context 8043), which was in turn truncated by a shallow sub-rectangular cut (context 8042), itself infilled with orange-brown silty-clay with 10th century pottery (context 8041).
A large sub-rectangular cut, 2.00m x over 1.60m in size (context 8033), was stratigraphically later than all of the contexts described above. Five associated small stake holes around the edge of the pit suggest that it was originally wicker lined. The pit was infilled with mid brown clayey silt with residual Roman brick fragments (context 8031). Pit 8033 was subsequently replaced by a second wicker lined pit (context 8030) which contained mixed deposits, typically silty-clays (contexts 8022, 8024-8030). All of the dating evidence from the pit fills was 10/11th century and included pottery and an Anglo-Scandinavian bone comb and skate. Plain tile of 13-16th century date from context 8027 must represent contamination from later pit cuts.
Context 8022 was beneath a circular pit 1.50m in diameter (context 8020) which was infilled with a dump of cobbles and three deposits of silty-clay (contexts 8014, 8017-8019). Context 8017 contained 10/11th century pottery. The small number of finds from this pit implies that it may have been for clay extraction rather than for the disposal of rubbish. Above pit 8020 was a small circular pit c 0.80m in diameter which was filled with dark brown silty-clay (contexts 8015-8016). Context 8015 contained late 11/12th century pottery and a horn core. A small pit, 1.00m x over 1.00m in size (context 8023), cut into context 8025. Cut 8023 was infilled with grey-brown silty-clay (context 8021) with 11/12th century pottery, a horn core, and a 9th -11th century spindle whorl (context 8021). Plain tile of 13-16th century date from context 8021 must represent contamination from later pit cuts.
Figure 4 South-east facing section of Trench 8 Scale
1:20
A series of structural features was then constructed in the area. Two parallel gullies, which extended beyond the limits of excavation on the northern side and were truncated by a later ditch cut on the southern side, were located. The northern most of these gullies was 0.30m wide with a circular post-hole 0.30m wide and 0.34m deep (context 8013) in the base, implying that the gully/post-hole was part of a timber building or fence. Parallel to, and on the south western side of cut 8012, was a second linear cut (context 8011). This was 0.80m wide and 0.38m deep, with steep straight sides and a concave base this was presumed to be for drainage.
These cuts were subsequently infilled with clayey-silts and gritty sandy-silty-clay (contexts 8007-8008 and 8012). Of these, context 8012 contained 10/11th to 13th century pottery, while context 8008 contained 11/12th to 15th century pottery and 13th-16th century tile. Context 8007 contained 13th to 16th century pottery and 14-15th century tile. A small rectangular pit of uncertain function was located to the north-east of 8013 (context 8006). Cut 8006 was backfilled with dark grey-brown clayey-silt with a single sherd of 12th to 15th century pottery (context 8005).
An oval post hole 0.20m x 0.20m in size and 0.37m deep (context 8039-8040) was located in the north-eastern most corner of the trench. This seems to have been replaced by a limestone post pad (context 8038). Contexts 8038-8040 are undated and could be placed in Phases 3-5 but have been phased here because it is the most recent phase at which they can occur.
Above 8005 was a cut c.0.80m square and 0.30m deep (context 8004) which was backfilled with friable dark grey brown clayey-silt with 17th century pottery (context 8003). A ditch cut ran along the entire length of the southern side of the trench (context 8010). The cut extended beyond the limits of excavation on three sides and was backfilled with dark grey-brown silty-clay (context 8009) which contained residual 11/12th to 16th century pottery. Sealing all of the contexts described above was a horticultural type soil consisting of dark brown clayey-sandy-silt with patches of orange clay (context 8000), which contained residual 15/16th century pottery.
Contexts 8075-8078 represent a well-constructed floor of bricks bedded on sand above a clay lining which itself was above a limestone mortar levelling deposit. Contexts 8075-8078 all sloped downwards to the south-western corner of the trench. Context 8075 was sealed by dark brown gritty silt (context 8074). The precise date of this activity is uncertain, but it is probably Victorian.
Dumps of building demolition rubble and limestone hardcore (contexts 8073 and 8002) acted as the bedding for the tarmac of the present car park (context 8001) which was 0.25m thick. The surface of the car park was at c.10.00m AOD.
Figure 5. North-east facing section of Trench 8 Scale 1:20
Excavation of Trench 8 yielded highly complex, multi-period archaeological deposits, a mere 0.30m below the present ground surface. The occupation can be divided into nine phases. The earliest phase consisted of natural sub-soil into which a variety of Roman features were cut. The evidence for Roman activity in the area is listed in Macnab (1999b, 7), detail that is not repeated here. The initial Roman activity consisted of a very poorly preserved inhumation burial and a bath-shaped pit cut both of 2nd/3rd century date. The interpretation of this cut (context 8054) is uncertain, but Roman inhumation burials were usually in bath-shaped pits (Ottaway 1993, 92). The shape of the cut and presence of another burial in the area suggests that cut 8054 was indeed a grave. The base of cut 8054 was only 1.10m in length, so any burial within it must have been of a child. The total absence of a skeleton or coffin may be explained either as the body having decayed away totally, or having been removed by later pit digging in the area. The presence of graves in this area is consistent with Roman burial practices elsewhere in York in terms of both location and burial practice. Roman law forbade burial in occupied areas, so graves were typically placed on the main roads approaching settlements, the richer burials being closest to the road, the poorer ones further away (Ottaway 1993, 91). The Trench 8 graves are c.350m from the presumed line of a Roman road leading from the gate on the south-eastern side of the fortress (OS 1988). During the second century inhumation replaced cremation as the preferred burial method, and inhumation was typically in a bath-shaped pit usually with a wooden coffin (Ottaway 1993, 92), exactly the pattern seen here.
The remaining features of Roman date were a number of small pits and structural gullies/post-holes from timber structures of 2nd/3rd century date. A combination of the small size of the trench and heavy truncation by later pits makes interpretation of these features impossible. The features do however indicate activity in the area, which would merit further investigation.
No evidence for 5th to 9th century activity was found in the trench, implying that the area was not settled during this period. There was, however, abundant evidence for settlement in the area from the 9/10th century onwards. Initially this consisted of a 9/10th century gully and a stake hole (Phase 3). Within the confines of such a small trench it is impossible to interpret such remains, but they are clearly structural. Subsequently (Phase 4) the area was used for pits, which seem to have been primarily for rubbish disposal, but possibly also for clay extraction. The pits range in date from the 10th century to the late 11/12th century implying that land use in the immediate vicinity was not significantly affected by the Norman Conquest.
The fifth phase of activity consisted of a slot for a timber structure or fence and an associated drainage gully. It is unclear if these features represent a property boundary and drainage ditch or were part of a building with associated eaves-drip gully. Again the limited area excavated makes a firm interpretation impossible. The exact date of these features is unclear; they could have been infilled as early as the 13th century, or as late as the 15th century. Whatever the date it is clear that activity in the area decreased significantly after the late11/12th century. This may reflect less intense land-use, or truncation in the area prior to Phase 6 (16th to 17th century).
The sixth phase consists of a drainage or boundary ditch and a pit (of 16th and 17th century date respectively) which were sealed by horticultural soil. The seventh phase consisted of a brick floored structure, which was probably of Victorian date. The relative lack of post-medieval and Victorian features is clearly due to modern levelling in the area, which effectively removed all but the deepest features of this date. The final phase of activity in Trench 8 comprised the present car park surface.
Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 | Group 7 | Group 8
