EYO2 - Adams Hydraulics, Peasholme Green Phase 1

Type

EVALUATION

Location

Location Peasholme Green
Grid reference Centred SE 6081 5196 (122m by 89m) (2 map features)
Map sheet SE65SW
Unitary Authority City of York, North Yorkshire

Technique(s)

Organisation

York Archaeological Trust

Date

Oct - 1990

Map

Description

16 trenches were excavated by machine. Subsequently limited hand excavation was carried out to aid interpretation an dating. Trenches A1-7 each measured 2mx1.5m and were positioned at 5m centres in a line as close to the modern street frontage as possible. Trench A2 was excavated by machine to a greater depth in order to establish the thickness of archaeological deposits and the depth at which natural deposits occurred. At right angles to Peaseholme Green a series of trenches (B1-8) was machine dug at 10m centres. Additionally trench C (30mx2m) was excavated at the south-eastern end of the site. This intervention was follwed by two further interventions, EYO6 and EYO12. The results of all 3 phases can be summarise as follows. There is a possibility of pre-historic occupation on the site. This is suggested by a deposit containing charcoal and burnt clay indicative of occupation immediately above natural deposits and below dated Roman features. Worked flint was discovered redeposited in Roman and later deposits from all three phases of work. Extensive Roman deposits were encountered, including a well made cobble surface and evidence of pottery manufacture nearby, suggesting that the site is likely to contain a well preserved part of the industrial suburb supplying the legionary fortress. Some indication of Anglo-Scandinavian occupation in the vicinity was provided by the location of a cess pit of this date. Excavations showed that the surface of the natural deposits differed greatly from those at the street frontage of Peasholme Green and the south-eastern part of the site near to the River Foss. The natural topography showed the naturally low lying nature of the area, approximately three-quarters of which was later occupied by the King's Fishpool. 14th-15th century buildings fronting the street and a contemporary cobble surface demonstrated the survival of medieval deposits at the street front. Wicker structures of this date were found close to the present day River Foss. The King's Fishpool appears to have been backfilled in the post-medieval period and the area used for agricultural purposes. No structures of this date were encountered, only a ditch and four pits. Dumping took place to the north-east of the site when the River Foss was canalised in the 18th century, and further dumping levelled the south eastern part of the site before industrial buildings were constructed on the site in the 19th and 20th centuries. Britannia : a journal of Romano-British and kindred studies inc. consolidated index for volumes 1-25 (1970-1994) Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies 241 XXII/1991 Interim : bulletin of the York Archaeological Trust 3-5 15.4/1991 Medieval archaeology : journal of the Society for Medieval Archaeology Index to vols 1-5 (1957-61); 6-10 (1962-66); 11-15 (1967-71); 16-20(1972-76); 21-25 (1977-81); 26-30 (1982-86); 31-35 (1987-91); 36-40 (1992-1996) 199 XXXV/1991 Virtual Catalogue Entry to support E.I. Migration 1991/Report on an Archaeological Evaluation at Adams Hydraulics, York. York Archaeological Trust annual report 26 /1990-1991

Sources/Archives (4)

  • --- Website: York Archaeological Trust. York Archive Gazeteer.
  • --- Unpublished document: YAT. 1990. Adams Hydraulics, Peasholme Green phase 1.
  • --- Serial: P Ottaway. 2011. The Archaeology of York 6/2 Archaeology in the Environs of Roman York. p188-191.
  • --- Digital archive: NMR. 2019. NMR data.

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

  • Adams Hydraulics Site, Peasholme Green (Monument)
  • Roman Pottery and Tile production area, Peaseholme Green (Monument)

Parent/preceding Site Events/Activities (1)

  • Archaeological Evaluation at Adams Hydraulics, York, Phase 3 (Ref: 1990-91.13)

Child/subsequent Site Events/Activities (2)

  • Archaeological Evaluation at Adams Hydraulics, deposit model data point (Ref: 1990-91.13)
  • Archaeological Evaluation Adams Hydraulics, Peasholme Green Phase 2 (Ref: 1990-91.13)

Record last edited

Jun 11 2020 2:41PM

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