York Historic Environment Record

The main excavation measured 31.60m x 33.60m, originally a grassed area gently sloping down from west to east. Several additional smaller areas adjacent to it were stripped of only their turf to create access for site vehicles and eventually to create a new car park. No archaeological deposits were being disturbed. In recent times, probably as part of the construction of the Alcuin College buildings, between lm and 1.8m of material was dumped on to the original ground surface. This consisted of a lower deposit of sandy clay containing brick rubble, metal scrap and pieces of limestone and mortar, almost certainly building construction debris. This was covered with a loamy topsoil mixed with some sand and pebbles and topped by turf. The old ground surface beneath this modern material was clearly visible as a line of decaying turf on loamy topsoil. Museum accession codes: 1990.1021, 1991.1021 York Archaeological Trust [assessment & evaluation reports] Marwood R/1991/Alcuin College Extension, York University, York: Watching Brief (YAT No 1991.1021).