Much of the early medieval activity found archaeologically in York has been recovered from riverside sites and as such the Hungate area would be expected to produce material from this period. During evaluation of the Hungate site in 1999, Anglian evidence in the form of a cobbled surface and dumps of material was recovered.
Anglo-Scandinavian occupation on Hungate was attested in trenches north-west of the junction between Carmelite Street and Hungate, and to the north of Stonebow. Evidence for timber buildings was recovered, including floors, dumps, levelling deposits and hearths (YAT, 2000, 92). To the east, off Dundas Street, further evidence of occupation was recovered, consisting of a structural gully beneath deposits of domestic material.
At the Adam's Hydraulics site, Anglo-Scandinavian pits and postholes have been recovered, suggesting some form of settlement. Finds of clench bolts have been used to suggest boat building on the site (YAT, 1990, 5). Considerable waterlogged deposits of vertical posts, possibly jetties on the site demonstrate good levels of preservation.
A pre-Conquest mill leat was identified on the Layerthorpe Bridge site, possibly associated with mills destroyed by the damming of the Foss in the eleventh century (Macnab, 1999, 8). Evidence for the maintenance of the banks of the Foss was also recovered, and a possible riverside structure was located (MAP, 1998). A clay bank of possible Anglo-Scandinavian date has been suggested as being part of Anglo-Scandinavian refortifications (in Macnab, 1999, 8).
A bank on the site of the Telephone Exchange also interpreted as Anglo-Scandinavian has since been questioned due to 'discrepancies in the interpretation of the residuality of pottery from this and earlier contexts' (Hunter-Mann in Macnab,1999, 8), but a medieval date has been suggested.
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Early Medieval Artefacts from the Telephone Exchange Excavations. Click a thumbnail for larger image & details. |
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