York Historic Environment Record

In 1980 a coffin first uncovered at The Mount School in 1932 (Dickinson and Wenham 1957, 291–3) was re-excavated by the school archaeological society under the supervision of York Archaeological Trust (Yorkshire Museum site code 1980.1034). The coffin was located close to Love Lane and was aligned north–south with the head of the skeleton at the north end. The lid was found at a depth of 0.50m below modern ground level. The coffin was of millstone grit with a slightly coped lid now broken in two (as a result of being lifted by a crane in 1932). It contained the skeleton of a robust female aged c.40. The head and feet had been encased in gypsum; originally the remainder had rested in a bed of gravel and both gypsum and gravel had been covered with sand. A clay and cobble ramp, noted in 1932, and thought to be for manoeuvring the coffin into its pit, was also observed (Ottaway, AY06/01 Archaeology in the Environs of Roman York: Excavations 1976-2005 p319). NMR has excavation here as 1980.1034 and 1981.1034 NMR sources: 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 XII/1981/329 The Yorkshire archaeological journal 53/1981/138 York Archaeological Trust annual report 1980-1981/APPENDIX 1 Yorkshire Philosophical Society : annual reports 1980/33