York Historic Environment Record

An archaeological investigation consisting of a desk-based study and the excavation of five trial trenches has been carried on a site to the rear of Foss Islands Road and Lawrence Street, York to gain information on the potential archaeological resource present on the site.The majority of the archaeological features identified during the archaeological work were pits, wells and ditches sealed by cultivation soils. These survived as negative features at depths of c.1.2m (11.93m AOD) below the existing ground level in the eastern part of the site and at c.2.2m (10.63m AOD) in the west. Their density increased towards the western part of the site.No evidence for occupation layers, structures including walls, floors and beam slots or human burials were identified on the site. These may have had greater archaeological significance if found.The pits and wells appeared to be associated with domestic activity relating to the disposal of rubbish, including ash and charcoal from fires, or sewage. None were identified as specifically relating to industrial or agricultural activity and they were probably associated with domestic properties fronting Lawrence Street. The ditches and gullies may have defined the rear of a plots or areas cultivation activity. Finds from these features indicate phases of activity of Anglo-Scandinavian, medieval and post-medieval date with only tentative evidence obtained for prehistoric, Roman and Anglian occupation.These archaeological features will only be at risk by the proposed development if associated ground works including the excavation of foundation and services trenches impact on the archaeological resource. This can be satisfactorily mitigated through the agreed archaeological condition for a watching brief.