York Historic Environment Record

An archaeological evaluation was carried out at land off New Lane, Huntington, York. The evaluation comprised the excavation of 46 trenches, that were positioned to test the results of a previous geophysical survey of the site. The trenching revealed a limited number of archaeological features and the majority of the potential archaeological features highlighted by the geophysical survey proved to be of natural origin. The earliest dated features detected were a pit and a gully, containing artefacts dated to 14th - 15th centuries. The remainder of dated features comprised of shallow gullies and pits; these were of a late 17th to early 20th century date. It is most likely these features relate to the agricultural management of the landscape during the post-medieval to early modern periods. An undated track-way defined by two parallel ditches on an east-northeast to west-southwest alignment was also identified. At its eastern end this track-way feature appeared to turn to respect the presence of a Roman camp, which survives as a shallow earthwork, and is designated as a Scheduled Monument. It is likely that the track-way post-dated the camp but must have been constructed during a period when the monument was well defined as an earthwork. Another undated ditch on a similar alignment as the track-way was also recorded and probably represented a former field boundary. The only evidence for Roman activity revealed by the evaluation was a residual sherd of 2nd - 4th century pottery sherd recovered from a furrow fill. On the basis of the results of this evaluation there is no archaeological reason to prevent development of the site. The only features of potential archaeological interest are the track-way feature and the apparently associated field boundary ditch to the south of this. Neither of these features contained any datable artefacts. As the track-way is undated, but potentially of any date from the later Roman to post-medieval period, it may warrant further investigation prior to development. Any such further investigation would be secured through the attachment of a condition to the grant of planning consent.