York Historic Environment Record

An archaeological watching brief was carried out by On-Site-Archaeology Ltd during development at 22 Toft Green. The majority of the archaeological investigation was focussed on the new build element of the development. The watching brief followed on from early phases of archaeological investigation (desk based assessment; a borehole survey that indicated deep thicknesses of archaeological deposits; and two trial trenches within the footprint of the new development that revealed a complex sequence of archaeological deposits, predominantly of Roman date, including evidence for buildings and a cobble/rubble surface). This phase of archaeological investigation initially involved monitoring a programme of geotechnical site investigation comprised of four small trial holes and two boreholes; this was followed by ground reduction within the area of the new three-storey building; monitoring pile arisings during pile installation and a lift pit excavation within 20 Toft Green. The earliest archaeological phase identified during the investigation were the formation of a soil horizon, two linear features probably representing a backfilled ditch or possible robbed out foundations and a hard-standing surface dated to sometime between the 2nd to 4th centuries. A later phase of activity included extensive levelling and a couple of discrete features comprised of a pit and a disturbed cobblestone surface/dumping. It remains uncertain if the dumping took place during the later Roman or post-Roman period or possibly a levelling out of Roman features during the early post-conquest medieval period to prepare for the land for agricultural / horticultural use. A medieval phase is represented by the formation of a thick soil horizon, probably related to horticultural activity. A number of rudimentary masonry structures were recorded within the lower horizon of the soil that may represent features associated with horticultural features or ancillary structures possibly forming part of a burgage plot/s to the rear of properties fronting Micklegate. Located close to the southwest boundary of the development was a possible graveyard soil horizon from which a number of disarticulated human bone fragments were recovered. Analysis of the human bone revealed these to be at least two distinct adult individuals. The discovery of this possible graveyard soil may be an indicator for the presence of a ‘lost church’ as shown on the Map of York 1852 as the ‘Supposed Site of St Nicholas Church’. Post-dating the possible graveyard soil were two intercutting undated features suggesting the presence of some form of local industrial activity that was superseded by a possible structural element. The foundation design for the new development and the groundwork associated with the preparation for piling and shallow raft foundation has had minimal impact on the Roman archaeological deposits identified by earlier archaeological evaluations at c.18.50mAOD. Roman archaeological deposits were only impacted upon by the re-routing of drainage to a depth of c.17.70m and by piling.