York Historic Environment Record

An irregular shaped area measuring approx 4 x 2.9m was dug to a depth of 1.6m below the surface of the cellar floor at 5-7 Coppergate. Below the top 0.9m or concrete and rubble laid 0.7m of dark, damp, peaty silt-loam. This material is characteristic of occupation deposits recorded on numerous occasions in the waterlogged Viking Age and medieval layers in this part of York. Two layers of brushwood, each 50-100mm thick, which sloped down toards the north-west, were observed in the north-east face of the excavation, and a row of three limestone slabs reained in position at the base of the excavated area. An alignment of posts with traces of wattling were also observed in a 1.5m long section traversing SE-NW. The posts averaged 50-70mm in diameter standing to a height of 0.3m. The dates of these layers and features can only be estimated within broad limits. Interpretations of these observations must take into account information recorded by George Benson 1902-3 when cellars were dug below 25-27 High Ousegate and 5-7 Coppergate which removed all deposits to a depth of 3.2m. Objects of Roman and later date were found as well as the remains of several structures. Benson noted an alignment of posts at the Coppergate end overlying rectangular 'pits'. The posts comprised two rows of birch posts with interwoven hazel twigs, 150mm apart. The posts were spaced c.100mm apart. The stakes recorded in 1974 are comparable in size to those that Benson measured. They have been interpreted as a fence line comparable to others seen in York in Anglo-Scandinavian levels. NMR sources: Interim : bulletin of the York Archaeological Trust 2.1/1974/17 Interim : bulletin of the York Archaeological Trust 2.2/1974/33 York Archaeological Trust Fascicule 8.3/1991/238.250 York Archaeological Trust Fascicule 14.4/1983/163-225