Former York Clinic, 117 Borough High Street and the Nag's Head Yard Workshop;
TQ 3261 8000; (Chris Pickard); excavation; 1 March-12 May & 16 June-1 September 2000; Watkins Grey International; BHB00
The Phase 1 excavation consisted of a large open area, c. 410m2, on the site of the
former York Clinic, the basement slab of which had severely impacted on the Medieval and
Post-Medieval horizons. The area of the Phase 2 measured c.197m2 and was located in the
Nag's Head Ally Workshop, the area here had undergone no substantial modern disturbance.
Evidence for Prehistoric activity consisted of a small scatter of flints located on a
small sandy island in the centre of the York Clinic site at 1.00m OD approx. The sandy
island was surrounded by three interconnected channels, of which the N-S channel had
several closely spaced piles located within it, possibly part of an early Roman timber
jetty. The most extensive channel was observed running NE-SW across the sites; it had
been revetted with posts and planks and there was evidence for regularly spaced jetty
structures. Roman occupation levels were located between 1.20 m OD and 1m OD.
A fish trap, double fish hook, and oyster shell dumps indicates the channel was exploited
for its aquatic food supply. To the east of the channel were extensive deposits containing
large quantities of building material, pottery and domestic waste with a high density of
oyster shells. A build-up of a humic deposits, rich in organic matter may indicate a
period when the maintenance of the channel ceased. This was sealed by extensive
reclamation dumps, and the channel was effectively dammed. The excavations in the York
Clinic area revealed remains of at least five rectangular clay and timber strip buildings
aligned at 90 degrees to the Roman Road, dating from the last third of the 1st century to
the second half of the 2nd century, showing several phases of rebuilding. A room in one
of the buildings produced large quantities of slag and possible industrial residues.
A tessellated floor was also recorded in the area, possibly part of the same phase of
building. In the NW corner of the York Clinic site a timber box framed well was located,
backfilled with Roman demolition material indicative of high status property in the
vicinity. To the south of the site a metalled gravel surface was located that extended
across the former NE-SW channel.
Two further Roman buildings were located in Nag's Head Yard, separated by a small
alleyway and built upon a series of levelling dumps which overlay the backfilled channel.
An upturned pottery vessel containing a dog skull was recovered from the dump which may be
votive. The southernmost building contained several hearths and two large ovens (in one of
which a miniature amphora was found), associated with a scorched brickearth floor. From
this building a basalt dice was recovered, the sides decorated with the lead inlaid
letters: 'T VA EST ORTI VRBIS ITALIA'.
In the SW of the Nag's Head site the corner of a building was located which also
showed evidence of rebuilding. One of the floors sealed a possible cremation urn with
lid. The buildings were covered by large quantities of demolition debris. Following this
disuse part of the site became a metalled road, which had been resurfaced many times. S of
the road numerous post-holes and cuts suggested a timber structure resting upon a clean
brickearth layer. The Roman building levels were sealed by a fairly homogenous dark earth
believed to be horticultural and containing late Roman artefacts. In the York Clinic area
remains of an inhumation had been interned on an E-W alignment, cut into the dark earth
layer.
The dark earth horizon in the E of York Clinic site was cut by numerous features
dating the Medieval and Post-Medieval periods including cess and rubbish pits, a pit
containing the articulated burial of a horse and a barrel well backfilled with domestic
waste.
At the Nag's head site the dark earth deposits were truncated by remains of a Medieval
building and two cess pits. The building had undergone several rebuilds and had been
extended to the E. The internal area of the building comprised numerous pitched tile
hearths which had also been rebuilt several times. S of the building a small gravel
alleyway/yard was located on an E-W alignment.
Sealing, and in places truncating the Medieval building were several phases of
Post-Medieval buildings, dating to 17th/18th centuries, built on roughly the same
alignment as earlier buildings. A N-S and E-W aligned cobbled alleyway and in-built
drains were recorded and a series of intercutting tanning pits and a chalk walled
cellar/ cess pit were associated with the later Post-Medieval buildings.
|
