Plate 5. Trench 13 - excavation of robber trench 13008 above wall 13031 and culvert 13032
York Archaeological Trust
Trenches 13 and 14 make up this group, which was located in the triangle of land at the junction of Palmer Lane and Dundas Street. It was hoped to locate the lost medieval church of St. John-in-the-Marsh and its associated burial ground within these two trenches. Both research objectives were achieved.
The trench was positioned on the eastern side of a yard that fronted onto Palmer Lane. The initial trench was c.4m x 2.3m, but it was later extended to 8.5m x 2.3m. The existing ground surface was at 10.11m AOD. The following is a description of the archaeology of the whole trench combining the initial trench and the extension.
The earliest archaeological deposits (contexts 13031, 13032 and 13033) were located at the base of a late medieval or early post-medieval robber cut (context 13008) at the eastern end of the trench. The most westerly of these was a pair of large yellow coarse-grained sandstone slabs (context 13032) which were laid flat on the base of the western side of the robber cut. The top of the slabs was at 8.09m AOD. The largest measured 1.18m x 0.60m x 0.20m, the smaller of the two was 0.56m x over 0.35m x 0.14m. The larger slab had three lewis holes on its upper surface between 0.06m and 0.08m deep to enable the easy lifting and positioning of the slab. Both slabs showed signs of burning at their edges and had patches of creamy off-white mortar adhering to their upper surfaces. Between them was a slight gap/void (0.01m to 0.02m wide) through which water was observed. Probing through this gap identified silt which, with the water, was in excess of 0.50m deep (i.e. to 7.59m AOD). No trace of a stone base could be felt beneath the silt but one could have existed at a lower level.
The slabs were not lifted as they were beneath the depth limit for this evaluation trench. Interpretation is therefore difficult. They could be either in-situ Roman remains or of medieval date. The geology of the slabs implies that they are of Roman origin (as coarse sandstones were not quarried during the medieval period) but this is of no real help in dating the feature as they could have been re-used in the medieval period. They lay directly beneath a major wall of St. John-in-the-Marsh church and would make perfect sense as part of the foundations of the church, except for the presence of the void and water beneath, which implies that the slabs were capping stones for a culvert or drain. It seems very unlikely that a culvert would be deliberately built directly beneath a church wall. If the slabs are the capping of a culvert, the implication is that they were unrelated to the church and pre-dated it. If so, the culvert should be placed in the Roman period. For this reason the slabs are interpreted as Roman, but it must be stressed that further excavation would be needed to clarify the date and function of these slabs.
It is of interest to note that natural clay was seen in the area at 7.68m AOD (Macnab 1999c, 10). If the slabs and void beneath do indeed represent a culvert, they clearly cut directly into the natural subsoil. It is often the case that features directly cutting natural are of Roman date and this was certainly the case in Trench 8 to the north (see Group2, Phase 2).
Immediately east of the possible Roman culvert was a layer of very compact light greyish brown clay sand (context 13033) with frequent medium sized limestone fragments. The top of this particular deposit was at 8.10m AOD and, judging by its compaction, this particular deposit is probably best interpreted as the foundation for a building to the east of and parallel with the possible Roman culvert.
On top of both the possible Roman culvert (context 13032) and the foundation material (context 13033) was a row of three masonry blocks aligned north-south bonded with light grey-brown clay-sand (context 13031). Two of the stones were rectangular sandstone blocks (measuring 0.24m x 0.19m x 0.13m and 0.21m x 0.17m x 0.11m) and the third was a rough block of limestone (measuring 0.23m x 0.19m x 0.15m). The overall structure measured over 0.42m long and up to 0.24m wide, the top of the structure being at 8.27m AOD. The bonding material was almost identical to that in context 13033, implying a relationship between the two. It was unlike the grey mortar associated with the robbed out walls of the church of St John-in-the-Marsh. It is possible that context 13032 is part of a Roman building resting on a foundation (context 13033) with an associated culvert (context 13031). However it cannot be ruled out that this was part of the foundation for the medieval church of St. John-in-the-Marsh. Without further excavation it is impossible to determine which of the two interpretations is correct.
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Plate 5. Trench 13 - excavation of robber trench 13008 above wall 13031 and culvert 13032 |
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At the east end of the trench, a deposit consisting of orange brown clay with occasional medium sized limestone fragments and cobbles (context 13034) was found. This was not excavated but had been truncated by a later robber-trench (see Phase 3, below). This may imply that it was within the medieval church of St. John-in-the-Marsh. It is possible that the deposit represents a floor, or more likely, a levelling deposit for a floor, which was robbed out at a later date.
To the west of and truncated by the same robber cut (see Phase 3, below) was a series of mixed deposits interpreted as graveyard soil. These were not excavated as they were below the depth limit for excavation. These covered the majority of the base of the trench and consisted of friable mid grey brown silty loam (contexts 13029-30, 13092-3, 13095, 13097-8 and 13100) or friable mixed mid brown clay sand (contexts 13096 and 13099). The graveyard soils contained mortar, limestone, brick and tile fragments, charcoal, pebbles and bone in varying concentrations.
Overlying the graveyard soil in the middle of the trench was a series of deposits consisting of friable dark brown clay silt (context 13021), mixed grey brown gritty clay silt (context 13025) and orange brown clay (context 13026) with lenses of dark brown gritty silt. The deposits contained limestone, mortar, tile, brick, shell, bone fragments, charcoal and pebbles in varying concentrations. Deposit 13021 contained a selection of pottery, which broadly dated the deposit from the 11th to the 15th centuries. It also contained a Roman fibula brooch fragment (small find 6). The deposits are interpreted as upcast resulting from grave digging.
A pit with near vertical sides and a flat base which measured up to 0.47m deep (context 13028) was dug into the graveyard soil. This was only partially excavated due to the presence of graves to the west. The pit was backfilled with loose crushed limestone and mortar fragments (context 13027) with occasional tile (dating to the 14th to the 16th centuries) and human bone fragments. This is interpreted as a rubbish pit, dug and backfilled quickly with building waste.
Eight inhumation burials in grave cuts truncated the graveyard soil and pit described above. It was agreed with John Oxley that none of the skeletons would be lifted. In the light of this most of the grave cuts were only excavated sufficiently to prove the presence of a burial. The grave cuts (contexts 13024, 13063, 13069, 13075, 13078, 13082, 13086 and 13091) generally had steep to near vertical sides, and where complete, these varied in size between 0.42m and over 1.38m long, between 0.20m and 0.42m wide, and between 0.09m and 0.30m deep. The top of the human bones within the graves was at between 0.03m and 0.30m (between 8.48m and 8.76m AOD) below the top edge of the grave cuts (which were situated between 8.55m and 8.86m AOD).
This group of graves consisted of two possible adults (contexts 13023 and 13090), one possible young adult or adult (context 13085), two children (contexts 13077 and 13081), and three infants (contexts 13062, 13068 and 13074). In half of the group only the skull was revealed, the others were identified by toe bones (contexts 13023 and 13090), and a pair of femurs (context 13081). Skeleton 13062 was the only one from this group of skeletons to be fully cleaned, although, since it had been heavily truncated by a later feature, only the skull, upper chest and right humerus survived. All of the burials were orientated east to west, with the head to the west, following typical Christian burial traditions.
The graves were backfilled with friable greyish brown
sandy loam or silty loam (contexts 13022, 13061, 13076,
13080 and 13090), mixed dark grey or dark brown clay
silt (context 13067 and 13073) and friable pale yellow
sandy mortar (context 13084). The deposits also contained
small wood fragments, mortar, brick, tile, limestone,
bone fragments, pebbles, charcoal and dark yellowish
brown sandy loam patches in varying concentrations.
A further deposit on the southern edge of the excavation
area consisted of friable mid grey brown silty loam
(context 13094). It is likely that this forms the backfill
of a further grave, the majority of which was beyond
the area of the evaluation trench. Dating for these
graves is based upon dating recovered from deposits
stratigraphically below and above, which implies a 15th
century date.
A large oval pit 1.50m long, 0.72m wide and over 0.21m
deep (context 13020) with moderately steep to near vertical
sides was discovered. The base lay below the excavation
depth limit. The pit was filled with mixed dark brown
clay silt with occasional tile, brick and limestone
fragments and frequent human bone fragments, including
a skull (context 13019), and contained 15th century
pottery. The pit is interpreted as a charnel pit, which
was probably dug to bury disturbed human remains resulting
from the intercutting of graves.
A layer of mixed grey brown silty loam (context 13014) with occasional mortar, brick, tile, limestone and bone fragments and charcoal flecks was laid down above the burials described above. This was between 0.10m and 0.20m thick and its surface was at 8.86m AOD. It is interpreted as a build-up or spread of graveyard soil. At the extreme western end of the trench a moist grey clay silt (context 13079), with similar inclusions to context 13014 but a higher density of charcoal flecks was found. It is unclear if this is a build-up or a dumped deposit laid down to raise the level of the ground surface within the graveyard. It was up to 0.24m thick and its surface was at 8.73m AOD. Between the two deposits, compact yellow mortar and orange brown clay (context 13060) with occasional brick and tile and bone fragments was laid down. This may have formed a hard standing, surface, path or levelling deposit, but truncation by graves made this difficult to ascertain. The deposits are probably all of late 15th or early 16th century date, as pottery from contexts 13014 and 13079 demonstrates. Deposit 13014 also contained a 13th to 16th century parchment pricker or stylus (small find 3) and a pot lid or counter (small find 19) made from 13th century York glazed ware. 13079 contained a piece of copper alloy sheet (small find 13). A deposit of grey clay sand (context 13123) which was only observed in the south-facing section, may have also been laid down at the same time as 13079.
Three graves (contexts 13013, 13072 and 13089) truncated the deposits described above. Only one of these (context 13072) was fully revealed in plan and it consisted of a sub-rectangular cut with vertical sides and measured in excess of 1.64m long (it was truncated by a later feature) and 0.58m wide. The burials within these three grave cuts were supine inhumations, orientated east to west (with the heads to the west), and were identified as two young adults/adults (contexts 13012 and 13071) and an infant (context 13088). The top of the skeletons was between 8.43m and 8.67m AOD, which was between 0.15m and 0.33m below the top edge of the grave cuts (between 8.69m and 8.86m AOD). The graves were backfilled with greyish brown mortary gritty clay silt (context 13011) and mixed grey brown silty loam or sandy loam (contexts 13070 and 13087).
To the east of grave 13072 a large pit with vertical sides, over 1.40m long, 0.45m wide and 0.40m deep (context 13059) was uncovered. This was not fully excavated due to the presence of a later grave. The pit was filled with friable grey brown silty loam with occasional, limestone, tile, mortar and bone fragments, charcoal flecks and pebbles (context 13058). A second pot lid or counter (small find 17) was recovered from this deposit. This feature is difficult to interpret, but it may be a further charnel pit similar to 13020.
Truncating context 13058 was a further grave (context 13066). This was not fully revealed in plan but measured over 1.40m long and 0.44m wide. It had vertical sides and contained the supine inhumation burial of an adult (context 13065), orientated east to west with the head at the west end. Backfilling the grave was a dark brown gritty clay silt (context 13064) which contained residual sherds of pottery dating from the 12th to the 14th centuries and a copper alloy strip (small find 9). Within the backfill was a disarticulated human skull which had obviously been disturbed when 13066 was dug and had been redeposited within the backfill.
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Plate 6. Burial 13065 |
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Truncating deposits at the eastern end of the trench were two large robber trenches (contexts 13008 and 13010). The western of these had steep to vertical sides, a flat base and measured up to 2.10m wide and 0.83m deep. It was orientated north to south but at the south side of the trench it turned through ninety degrees, to an east to west orientation. This trench was filled with rubble (context 13007) which consisted of rough blocks of magnesian limestone, light yellowish, greyish and off-white mortar, patches of grey brown silty loam and brown clay silt and occasional 13th to 16th century pottery and Roman tile fragments and cobbles. A fragment of medieval window glass (small find 5) was also recovered. This cut is interpreted as the main robber trench for the south-western corner of the church of St. John-in-the-Marsh.
In the north-east corner of the evaluation trench, a second robber cut was identified (context 13010). It too had steep to near vertical sides, but could not be fully excavated due to the confines of the excavation area. Its fill consisted of a rubble deposit (context 13009) which was very similar to context 13007. It is difficult to understand exactly what this robber trench was robbing but it may be an internal feature of the church.
Two dumps of mortar (contexts 13083 and 13004) sealed the robbing. Context 13083 was loose pale yellow mortar and sand, 13004 was a spread of friable light yellowish, greyish and off-white mortar with patches of brown and grey brown gritty clay silt. The latter spread over the majority of the robber cuts described above and contained a second fragment of medieval window glass (small find 1). These deposits may represent dumping of demolition related material, or a deliberate attempt to level the ground surface. The top of context 13004 was at 9.01m AOD.
A series of further dumps and build-ups of late medieval or early post-medieval date sealed deposits at the western end of the trench. These consisted of friable grey clay sands (contexts 13116, 13120 and 13122) and greyish off-white mortar (context 13121). These may have been laid down to raise and level the ground surface, their surface being at 9.04m AOD.
Truncating context 13004 was a small pit with steep sides and a rounded base, which measured 0.80m wide and 0.35m deep (context 13016). This was filled with a loose mix of limestone, mortar and dark brown silt (context 13015) with occasional bones, brick and tile fragments and pebbles. A second pit (context 13110) was observed in section to the west of this. It had steep sides, a flat base and measured 1.02m wide and 0.30m deep and was filled with three deposits. The primary deposit consisted of friable mixed dark grey brown silty loam (context 13055), whereas the secondary and tertiary fills were greyish clay sand (context 13117 and 13118). The pits are of unknown function but may be interpreted as rubbish pits, dug perhaps on open land once the church had been robbed and levelled.
A thick accumulation of dark brown clay silt (contexts 13050 and 13104) and dark grey silty loam (context 13113) then built up across the area. This contained occasional brick, tile and mortar fragments and charcoal flecks and pebbles. The deposit was up to 0.42m thick, and raised the ground level across the whole trench to 9.30m AOD. This is interpreted as an agricultural or horticultural soil similar to those located in Trenches 12 and 14.
The drawn sections appear to show the foundations of two 18th or early 19th century structures being sealed by the agricultural or horticultural soil described above. However, it seems more likely that construction cuts were not recognised in section and that, as in the adjacent Trenches 12 and 14, the structures are in fact later than the agricultural or horticultural soil.
Truncating the agricultural or horticultural soil were the foundations for an 18th or early 19th century building. These consisted of a line of large limestone blocks (context 13054) which was orientated north to south across the trench and mortared with a creamy white lime based mortar. The foundation blocks averaged 0.2m x 0.10m x 0.10m in size and the overall foundation measured over 1.10m long, 0.40m wide and 0.22m high. On top of the foundation two brick walls (context 13053) in a T-shaped layout were constructed. These were up to six courses (0.43m) in height, bonded with a lime based mortar. The walls were built of two sizes of brick which averaged 0.24m x 0.10m x 0.05m and 0.20m x 0.10m x 0.07m sized bricks. The thinner bricks were utilised in the lower courses of the wall and may have been re-used from earlier demolished building's close by. The thicker bricks, would have been part of the visible fabric. The walls probably formed part of a building that fronted onto Palmer Lane.
A cellar, septic tank or cess-pit also truncated the agricultural or horticultural soil of Phase 4. The visible construction cut (context 13052) had vertical sides and a flat base but was only 0.10m deep. The cut was almost certainly dug from a much higher level but was not visible in the trench section. The base of the construction cut was sealed with compact dark-brown clay-silt (context 13124) which is interpreted as a layer of trampling. A brick built structure (context 13044) was then constructed which consisted of two brick walls and a floor of sandstone slabs and bricks. The structure survived to eight courses or 0.66m in height, and the average brick size was 0.24m x 0.11m x 0.07m. As most of the structure lay beyond the limits of excavation its overall dimensions could not be recorded.
A portion of a brick floor (context 13003) was also excavated on the southern side of the trench. Only a small area of this was revealed, the bricks averaging 0.24m x 0.11m x 0.07m in size. This floor was probably contemporary with the other 18th or 19th century structures located in the trench and described above.
A series of levelling and possible floor deposits was then laid down. These consisted of fine orange yellow sand (contexts 13049 and 13106), yellowish limestone and mortar fragments (context 13048), fine dark grey silty sand and mortary sand (contexts 13047 and 13108), loose light yellow and white sandy mortar (contexts 13045, 13103 and 13112), burnt orange slag (contexts 13105 and 13109) and crushed bricks (context 13107). All of these deposits were of either 19th or 20th century date and are interpreted as levelling deposits within and around the buildings and structures on site. They raised the ground surface to between 9.40m and 9.45m AOD.
Backfilling context 13044 was a deposit of black cinder (context 13043) which contained frequent charcoal, and occasional glass and pottery. This was probably dumped into the brick-structure once it had fallen out of use to fill it and level the ground surface. Sealing this backfill was light yellow sandy mortar (context 13042), interpreted as a modern levelling deposit.
A pit (context 13111) which truncated context 13106 was observed in the south-facing section. This had a moderately steep sloping western side, a flattish base and measured 0.50m wide and 0.22m deep. It was dug against the western side of wall 13053 and was filled with dark grey cinders (context 13110). This is interpreted as a modern rubbish pit.
Truncating context 13018 was a north-south aligned service-trench cut (context 13115) containing a ceramic drain pipe and backfill (context 13114). The cut was 0.28m wide and 0.25m deep, with near vertical sides and a flat base. The ceramic drain was 0.21m in diameter and the backfill was mixed dark grey mortar and sand. This service trench may have been inserted after the brick walls of context 13053 had been demolished.
A second drain construction cut (context 13046), on a north-east to south-west alignment, ran across the trench, curving slightly to the south at the south-eastern end. This had vertical to slightly undercut sides and a flat base and measured 1.40m wide and 0.50m deep. It contained a 0.13m diameter ceramic drain and was filled with mixed light grey sandy silt (context 13051).
Sealing the above features was a series of modern dumps or levelling deposits consisting of ash and cinder (contexts 13040 and 13102), light and dark grey silty sand and sandy silt (contexts 13037-8 and 13041), brick rubble (context 13101) and orange brown sand (context 13039).
Figure 8. Trench 13 - south facing section. Scale 1:25
These were overlain by very dark grey sandy silt (context 13036) topsoil, which in turn was sealed by a dump of loose reddish purple ashy sand (context 13035). Truncating the topsoil deposit 13036 were three modern post-holes (contexts 13006, 13018 and 13057). These were backfilled with a similar deposit to the topsoil (contexts 13005, 13017 and 13056).
The trench was positioned in the pavement at the junction between Dundas Street and Palmer Lane, measured 2.5m long and 1.5m wide and was completely hand excavated. The modern ground surface is situated at 9.82m AOD.
The earliest deposits located at c.8.30m AOD consisted of firm plastic mid to dark brown silty clay (context 14025) and mid orange brown clay silt (context 14037). These are interpreted as graveyard soils and were not excavated.
The graveyard soil was truncated by a series of nine cuts (contexts 14028 and 14038-46), none of which was excavated as they were beneath the depth limit for excavation. The cuts were aligned east to west across the base of the trench and were dated to the medieval period. They are interpreted as graves, and one (context 14028) was investigated to confirm this interpretation. Cut 14028 had near vertical sides and measured in excess of 0.82m long, 0.35m wide and over 0.18m deep. An in-situ juvenile burial (context 14027) was uncovered within the cut. The bones were at c.1.60m (8.22m AOD) below the present ground surface. The skeleton was fully extended and aligned east-west, but the head was at the western end of the grave cut, which is unusual for a medieval burial. The skeleton was in good condition (apart from its feet, which were truncated by a later grave cut, context 14038). The burial was covered and the grave cut filled with firm dark greenish brown silty clay (context 14026). Plain tile fragments dated this deposit to between the 13th and the 16th century. The other unexcavated burials were also backfilled with similar material (contexts 14029-36).
The presence of inhumation burials in this area demonstrates that the burial ground associated with the lost medieval church of St. John-in-the-Marsh extended at least as far as Trench 14. It seems likely that the burial ground, and possibly the church as well, extends under the junction of Dundas Street and Palmer Lane.
Sealing the burials was a sequence of deposits (contexts 14020 and 14053-55) which were similar in colour and composition to the backfills of the grave cuts. This was up to 0.50m thick, the top being at 8.70m AOD and is interpreted as a graveyard soil within the churchyard.
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Plate 7. Trench 14 - excavation of burial 14027 |
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A shallow oval pit or gully (context 14024) truncated the graveyard soil. This had steep sides, a rounded base and measured over 0.74m long, 0.48m wide and 0.15m deep. This shallow feature which was aligned north to south was filled with firm dark brown silty clay (context 14023) which contained occasional small tile and limestone fragments. It was interpreted as a shallow pit dug for the disposal of demolition waste, possibly associated with renovations to the church of St John-in-the-Marsh. To the north of this feature a spread of dark brown silty clay (context 14056) which contained occasional cobbles and small brick and tile fragments, which may also have been associated with renovation activities, was laid down.
Sealing the whole of the trench from 8.80m AOD was a layer of firm dark brownish to greenish grey gritty silty clay (context 14019) which contained occasional to moderate coal, charcoal, brick, tile, mortar and limestone fragments. This may have formed as a thin turf within the disused graveyard. A pot lid or counter (small find 12) made from a fragment of medieval peg tile dated to between the 13th and the 16th centuries was also recovered. The deposit was pottery dated to between the 13th and the 18th century but it is likely that the later material was intrusive and a 15th or 16th century date for this deposit would be more acceptable.
The butt end of a late medieval or early post-medieval robbing cut (context 14021) truncated accumulation 14019 and backfill 14023. It had near vertical sides, a slightly rounded base and measured 1.41m wide and 0.66m deep. It extended to the north-west beyond the excavation limit and was filled with loose silty clay (context 14022) with frequent medium to large limestone fragments, tile and occasional large cobbles. The robber cut may have been dug to obtain building stone from a buttress on the eastern side of the church.
Two shallow parallel linear features (contexts 14016 and 14018) orientated north to south across the northern end of the trench truncated the earlier deposits. They had shallow sloping sides, flattish bases and measured between 0.42m and 0.46m wide and 0.04m and 0.10m deep. These features are interpreted as post-medieval lazy beds (horticultural features). Backfilling the cuts were soft dark greyish brown clay silts (contexts 14015 and 14017) which were inserted after the beds had been dug and the crops planted.
A thick accumulation of soft dark greyish brown clay silt (context 14014) built up over the whole of the trench and raised the ground level to 9.10m AOD. This is interpreted as an agricultural or horticultural soil. It contained a small assemblage of pottery, which spanned from the 11th to the 20th century. Analysis of similar deposits in Trenches 12 and 13 suggests that the 20th century sherds are intrusive and that the soil is more likely to be of 18th or early 19th century date. A decorated 14th century or later bone handle (small find 2) for an iron knife was found in this deposit.
The foundations and floor of an 18th or early 19th century building were constructed, the top of which was at 9.69m AOD. These consisted of a brick structure (context 14010), a stone floor (context 14011) and a mortar floor (context 14013). The brick structure was rectilinear in plan and constructed with reused red bricks (measuring 0.21m x 0.10m x 0.08m) and tiles including three 17th or 18th century unglazed floor tiles (measuring 0.23m x 0.23m x 0.4m). Up to five courses of the structure survived bonded with soft sandy lime mortar. The overall structure was up to 1.20m long x 0.54m wide x 0.35m high. Within the structure, on its southern side, a stone floor of well fitting reused large limestone blocks (context 14011) was constructed. Some of blocks appeared to have been worked and may have been reused from the church of St. John in the Marsh. The blocks measured up to 0.70m long, 0.60m wide and 0.19m thick. This may have been a floor in an alcove in the building or a hearth base below a chimney stack. To the north-east of the brick and tile structure a further floor was laid down. This consisted of compact sandy grey mortar (context 14013), up to 0.02m thick. Whether this formed an internal or external surface is unclear.
Figure 9. North-west facing section of Trench 14 Scale 1:20
Sealing the mortar floor (context 14013) on the north-eastern side of the brick structure was a thick layer of loose light brown sandy silt (context 14012) with frequent mortar fragments and occasional limestone and brick fragments. This raised the ground level to 9.55m AOD. Further deposits consisting of mid brown silty clay (context 14060) with frequent brick and tile fragments, dark brownish grey silty sand (context 14059) and loose mid grey brown crushed mortar (context 14058) were dumped, raising the ground level further to 9.73m AOD on the north-eastern side of the trench. These deposits probably relate to the clearance of the area in the 1930s.
A construction cut (context 14004) for a modern gas pipe (context 14003) aligned north-east to south-west truncated the brick structure on the north-western side of the trench. Modern paving slabs (context 14001) sealed its backfills at 9.82m AOD. On the south-eastern side of the trench, the construction cut (context 14007) for a modern sewer pipe (context 14006) truncated the earlier deposits to a depth of c.1.40m. Its backfill (context 14005) was sealed by concrete paving.
The earliest evidence for features in this group consisted of a possible in-situ Roman culvert, foundation and part of a wall (Trench 13 Phase 1). The interpretation of these features is problematic, only further excavation will clarify their function and date.
The research objective of finding the lost parish church of St. John-in-the-Marsh and its associated burial ground was achieved by the Group 4 trenches. Virtually nothing is known about this church. It had gone out of use by 1519, was sold for demolition in 1550, and the parish was subsequently unified with the adjacent parishes of St. Andrew and St. Saviour in 1586 (RCHM 1981, 149).
Although none of the church walls were seen their position is marked by robber trenches (Trench 13 Phase 3 and Trench 14 Phase 3). It is clear that the robber trench located towards the eastern end of Trench 13 represents the south-western corner of the church. A small section of robber trench was also located at the extreme northern side of Trench 14, which clearly related to the church. However, precisely which part of the church it represented is unclear. Three possible interpretations are put forward. If the church was aligned exactly east-west and had a rectangular ground plan this robber trench may be part of an external buttress on the eastern end of the church. If the church had a rectangular nave and smaller rectangular chancel it is possible that the robber trench represents the south-eastern corner of the chancel. Thirdly it is possible that the robber trench represents the south-eastern corner of a church aligned slightly north-east to south-west. Whichever interpretation is correct the robber trench is connected with the eastern end of the church, making it c.20.00m in length, which is broadly comparable with other churches in the area. St.Helen on the Walls, Aldwark was c.19 x 10m in its final form (Dawes and Magilton 1980, 7), St.Cuthberts, Peasholme Green is c.15 x 12m in size, and St.Andrews is c.18 x 9m (RCHM 1981, 12 and 10). The northern edge of the church was beyond the limits of excavation, so its width is not known.
A third robber trench was located just inside the presumed south-western corner of the church. This feature could not be excavated, so it is not possible to say what was being robbed, but it may have been an internal feature within the church. A levelling deposit associated with the interior of the church was found, but no associated floor surfaces were uncovered.
Parts of the burial ground associated with the church was uncovered in both Trenches 13 and 14. The burials were all aligned east to west, with the head to the east, except for the child burial in Trench 14 which had the head at the west. The burials were left in place at the request of John Oxley, Principal Archaeologist for the City of York Council. No burials were located within Trench 12, so the western limits of the cemetery must be located somewhere between Trenches 12 and 13. The southern, northern and eastern limits of the cemetery are unknown. Since none of the burials revealed were lifted, the full complexity and depth of the cemetery and any surviving archaeology beneath it are at present unknown.
In Trench 13 three separate sequences of burial (twelve graves in total), separated by build ups of cemetery soil were seen. The burials included four infants, two juveniles and four adults. A further two burials, where only the toe bones were visible within the trench were probably also adults. One definite and one probable charnel pit were also identified. The first phase of burials was dated to the 15th century, and the second and third phases were late 15th or early 16th centuries. The fact that 50% of the graves in Trench 13 were of children or infants may seem a high percentage. Excavations at the parish church of St.Helen on the Walls, Aldwark, suggested some clustering of children and young adults in the southern corner of the graveyard, and percentages of children buried in different parts of the graveyard and church ranged from 22.9% to 46.6% (Dawes and Magilton 1980, 11). It is possible that the burials described here may also represent a clustering of juvenile burials, in this case to the south-west of the church.
In Trench 14 nine grave cuts were seen. One was definitely a child, but due to later truncation and the limited area exposed it was not possible to assess the ages of any of the other burials. The Trench 14 burials were beneath two shallow pits backfilled with demolition material. These were sealed by a further build-up of graveyard soil and clearly therefore pre-date the robbing of the church after 1550 (Trench 14 Phase 2). They probably therefore relate to earlier renovation works on the church.
As has already been stated robber trenches associated with the demolition of the church in 1550 were found in both Trenches 13 and 14 (Trench 13 Phase 3 and Trench 14 Phase 3). The robber trenches were sealed in both trenches by a thick agricultural or horticultural soil of post-medieval date, and in the case of Trench 14 by two lazy-beds (Trench 13 Phase 4 and Trench 14 Phase 4). The horticultural soil was similar to deposits seen in Trench 12.
The horticultural soil was truncated by 18th or early 19th century buildings, which presumably fronted onto Palmer Lane (Trench 13 Phase 5 and Trench 14 Phase 5). These were subsequently demolished, probably in the 1930s when the area was cleared. The 20th century deposits consisted of service pipe trenches, pits and dumps. The uppermost deposit in Trench 13 was topsoil, while Trench 14 was paved.
Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 | Group 7 | Group 8
