York Historic Environment Record

Two evaluation trenches were excavated to the dimensions as specified above. These two initial trenches were hand dug and revealed nothing of any archaeological significance. As a consequence of this it was decided to dig a sondage at the western end of the trenches to test for the presence of archaeology at a greater depth. The second stage of the evaluation consisted of the excavation of a further four trenches, the first three being 1 x 1metres with the last being 2 x 1 metres squared. The further excavated trenches were named A and F. Trench A revealed the remnants of three human burials all of which were truncated by a later drainage cut dating to the 19th century, a consequence of which left only the lower limbs in-situ. Trench B by contrast was found to be archaeologically sterile. Further evaluation was then carried out to test and delineate the area of archaeological sensitivity with the proposed developmental area. Trench C was located to identify the level of the buried soil close to the terraced housing on Marlborough Grove and proved to be unremarkable, archaeologically with the natural subsoil being revealed at depth of 0.2 metres below ground level . Trench D was the largest of the trenches to be dug being 2 x 1metres squared and was found to contain building materials just below the ground surface. However this material was thought to be modern in date and related to the construction of housing during the 1930’s. No other significant archaeological remains were recovered. Trenches E and F proved to be unremarkable archaeologically with the natural sub soil being located some 0.3 metres below the present ground level. Apart from trenches A and D producing a small amount of residual Roman and later pottery it was concluded that on this site only the highest terraces of the proposed development area had preserved archaeological remains in-situ undisturbed by Post-medieval and modern development