Hungate Desktop (YAT): Introduction

The Hungate Archaeological Project: Desktop Study (YAT report)

summary | introduction | development site | conclusions | references

York Archaeological Trust

Introduction

General Introduction

This archaeological desk-top study provides a critical assessment of the current level of knowledge concerning the location, extent, date, character, condition, significance and quality of the surviving archaeological resource within the area of the proposed Hungate development in the centre of York.

The development, which is situated just to the east of the central shopping area within the historic medieval city, encompasses an area of approximately 40,000 square metres (Figure 1). It comprises retail, leisure, office and residential development over the whole site.

The report includes the results of an archaeological desk-top study, a walk-over survey and geo-technical analysis of all previous archaeological excavations and monitored bore-holes within, and in the immediate vicinity of, the development area.

Methodology

The compilation of this report involved a number of stages of collection and collation of information and assessment of its significance in relation to the archaeology and the built heritage within the development area.

The following sources were accessed and utilised.

Published and archived data sources including the Sites and Monuments Register (SMR), the List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historic Interest and the York Archaeological Trust Gazetteer of Sites in York.
Ordnance Survey topographical maps, historic maps, geological maps and aerial photographs.
Historical accounts and published histories of the city and archaeological evaluation, watching brief and excavation reports.

Consultation was also undertaken with relevant local government heritage officers, libraries and academic institutions.

Upon completion of the data collection phase, a walk-over survey was undertaken to look at the current state of the development site and to aid in the prediction of potential areas of modern disturbance and damage to archaeological deposits.