York Historic Environment Record

An archaeological excavation was undertaken at 104 Micklegate “The Rattle Owl”, between 8th September 2014 to 28th February 2015. These investigations were undertaken by archaeologists from the University of York Archaeology Department. The site works consisted of an open area excavation within the basement area, excavating down 200mm under the 18th Century brick floor to expose and record archaeological deposits. This investigation was conducted after a previous archaeological evaluation had been undertaken by York Archaeological Trust. The excavation revealed Roman period deposits, dating from the c. AD 1st to 4th Centuries. This also includes the remnants of a possible road or trackway, preserved in poor condition, on an east-west alignment across the site, as well as the robbed out remains of a late Roman Period building. Roman pottery, glass and metalwork was present within occupation and demolition layers across the site. There were 2 inhumation graves uncovered onsite. One in the south-west area was excavated due to shallow deposition and apparent disturbance.This burial most likely dates from the early Roman period. The second grave was present in the south-east corner underneath the stairs and left in situ, unexcavated, due to capping stones directly overlying the grave cut. It is suggested based on the surface clean of this burial it is also most likely Roman in date. Potential Post Roman/Anglian period features, pottery and post holes were also uncovered across the site. Medieval pottery and a possible structure was discovered in the north-west corner, re-using some of the early Roman limestone building blocks from previous buildings on-site. Post Medieval demolition layers were revealed across the excavation area, highlighting the heavily disturbed nature of the earlier archaeology most likely done in the late 17th/early 18th Century when this property was first built with its associated cellar. There was also visual evidence present of the re-use of potential Roman and Medieval stonework within the north facing cellar wall. As well as a suggested Roman period stone sarcophagi inlaid into the south-western cellar wall. This document presents a brief assessment of the material culture and data recovered during the course of the archaeological excavation.