1111713. Cite this using datacite

Title:

Watching Brief at 2 and 8 Buckingham Street

Series:

York Archaeology unpublished report series

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Licence Type:

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International Licence

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5284/1111713

Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract:

The first trench was excavated adjacent to the pavement on the north-western side of the road outside 2 Buckingham Street, close to the junction with Skeldergate. It measured 3.3m north-east/south-west by 1.4m north-west/south-east and was approximately 2.5m deep. At the base of the trench was the existing brick sewer. Work was completed on this trench before York Archaeology was informed of the site works commencing. Consequently, the digging of this trench was not archaeologically monitored. It was, however, possible to inspect the open trench. The second trench was excavated outside 8 Buckingham Street close to the junction with Lambert Court. This trench measured 4.2m north-east/south-west by 1.8m north-west/south-east and was excavated to a depth of approximately 2.5m. The excavation of this trench was undertaken under archaeological supervision and it was possible to carry out detailed inspection, recording of deposits and artefact recovery. The majority of the deposits related to the construction backfill of a brick-built culvert at the base of the excavation. Along the north-western side of the trench a narrow strip of in situ deposits was also removed down to the top of the culvert. No pre-modern features were identified during the archaeological watching brief, although the deposits that were revealed stratigraphically beneath the modern sewer and water pipes may pre-date the modern period. Evidence of disturbance through these earlier layers is present in the form of lead water pipes and a previous cut made for the sewers that revealed cobblestones. It is likely that this is evidence for a cobbled road surface disturbed when the cut for the original sewer was excavated and later backfilled. The dating evidence described above, particularly the pottery, indicates there was activity in this area from at least the medieval period until the 18th century, which is unsurprising given the site’s location within the historical area of the city. However, even though the general sherd size suggests a minimal degree of residuality, the stratigraphic sequence suggests that most sherds are likely to have been redeposited during post-medieval or modern ground disturbance. One possible exception to this is the sherd of 11th century pottery from Context 1015, which was a deposit that did not appear to be made ground. This was revealed at a depth of 850mm, suggesting that in less disturbed ground, that this could be an guide depth for the start of medieval archaeology in the immediate vicinity. However, as only a small area of this deposit was uncovered, it is not possible to confirm if this is the case and further excavation would be required. Otherwise no significant archaeological activity was present.

Author:

Dani Lawlan
Alex Rickinson

Publisher:

York Archaeology

Year of Publication:

2022

Locations:

Parish:	York, unparished area
County:	North Yorkshire
District:	York
Country:	England

Grid Reference: 460138, 451482 (Easting, Northing)

Subjects / Periods:

WATCHING BRIEF (Event)

Identifiers:

OASIS Id:

yorkarch3-516525

Source:

OASIS (OASIS)

Relations:

Created Date:

28 Jul 2023