Images from an Archaeological Evaluation and Open Area Excavation at James Street/Brinkworth Terrace, York 2022
On-Site Archaeology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5284/1111853. How to cite using this DOI
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5472
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1111853
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises images from an archaeological evaluation and open area excavation at land off James Street/Brinkworth Terrace, York undertaken by On-Site Archaeology between August and November 2022.
The investigation initially comprised of the excavation of three evaluation trenches (Trenches 1 - 3). As two of the evaluation trenches were shown to contain archaeological cut features, provisionally dated to the Romano-British to medieval periods, a mitigation strategy in the form of a strip map and record investigation was required and agreed with the City of York Council Archaeologist. The archaeological mitigation comprised the excavation of another four trenches (Trenches 4 - 7) on those parts of the site where the impact of the proposed development was perceived to be greatest and that had the potential for the continuation of features identified within the two initial trenches (Trenches 1 and 2).
The earliest land use identified during the site investigation was ditch digging activity of a probable late 1st to early 2nd centuries AD Roman date. Following the Roman activity a distinct phase of occupation was identified with the construction of a north to south aligned earth-fasted post holed structure (Trench 5) and pit digging (Trenches 1, 4 and 5). Two pits and a natural feature, possibly representing land clearance, appeared to be of a mid/late 9th - mid/late 11th century Anglo-Scandinavian date. The post hole structure was c.16m long and comprised of an alignment of sub-rectangular post holes possibly representing principal housing for 'arcade posts' of a single aisled building. Probable contemporary alignments of round post holes may represent secondary structure supports/repairs. Pit digging mainly to the south of the structure, outside its speculative footprint, share a similar date range and most likely are broadly contemporary. There appears to be, although speculatively, a later phase of isolated pit digging of a 13th to 15th century date and possible hedgerow clearance post-dating the post hole structure. The remainder of features investigated were identified as associated with development of the area during the later 19th and early 20th centuries of housing and subsequent 20th century industrial developments and demolitions.
