York Historic Environment Record

In June 1999 York Archaeological Trust undertook a watching brief to observe the excavation of thirteen trenches dug to underpin the northern wall of a property adjacent to the southern edge of a development site at 14 Skeldergate, York. In addition the drilling of a series of pile trenches was observed. Prior to full scale piling operations the pile-trench positions were pre-bored to ensure there were no obstructions. The pre-boring of seventeen pile-trenches and full piling of eighteen pile-trenches was observed and recorded. During the full piling operations it became clear an extended programme of excavation and recording was required. This additional work was undertaken in July to August 1999 and involved the hand excavation of three pile-trenches approximately 2m x 2m in size and I.5m deep (this became Trench 40), together with the detailed recording of at least one section in a further 26 pile-trenches. The piling operations revealed a well-stratified sequence of deposits dating from the Roman, Anglo-Scandinavian and medieval periods. A number of 12th-early 13th century limestone walls together with well stratified complex occupation deposits of 13th to 16th century date were seen in the recorded sections and hand excavated pile-trenches. There was relatively little evidence of post-medieval stratigraphy implying that the area had been truncated in modern times.