York Historic Environment Record

Turf and topsoil between 0.2m and 0.3m thick was found to overly a build-up of sub soil, usually 0.4m to 0.6m thick, which in places was present in two distinct horizons. A relatively late date for the accumulation or working of that material was evidenced by the occasional presence of 18th/19th century CBM and pottery, A single sherd of Samian pottery, dating to 1st – 3rd century could indicate the sub soil accumulated over a prolonged period. The south-west end of the excavated areas had greater variation in the natural deposits. The stonier material may form part of natural variation in soubsoils or that working of the soils here by processes such as ploughing had disturbed and displaced pebbles and cobbles originating as make-up material of the southern approach road. The bank and ditch present along this part of the Knavesmire’s periphery has likely truncated the sequences leaving small pockets of 19th/20th century refuse tipping and ephemeral traces of earlier activity.