York Historic Environment Record

The first stage of this work (see EYO89 for phase 2), in July 1995, involved the observation and recording of six boreholes, driven to a depth of between 15m and 17.5m below modern ground level. The boreholes indicated that alongside Skeldergate the top of undisturbed natural deposits was at between 3.2m and 4.0m OD, beneath up to 6m of archaeological deposits. However, on the south-west, side of the site undisturbed natural was barely 2m below the surface, at about 10m OD. Four of the boreholes yielded well preserved, waterlogged organic deposits at between 2m and 4.5m below the modern surface. All six boreholes provided evidence for intact stratified archaeological deposits: unfortunately, no dating evidence of any kind was recovered. The site has provided evidence relating to the Roman topography of the area. The top of undisturbed natural deposits on the south-west side of the site is at least 6m higher than it is alongside Skeldergate. This may simply mean that there was a particularly steep slope down to the River Ouse. On the other hand, if Roman buildings are present on the site, it suggests that the slope down to the river was terraced in order to make it suitable for occupation. Roman terracing along the south-west side of the River Ouse has previously been identified at Bishophill to the north-west, and in Clementhorpe to the south-east. The evidence from 47-51 Skeldergate raises the possibility that the part of the Roman colonia close to the River Ouse was terraced along its entire length (INTERIM 1996).