Archaeology

Methodology

The excavation area

The site at 62-68 Low Petergate, covered five known tenements which have their origins in the medieval period and have survived into recent times. There were two main areas to the site; the hand excavated main area of excavation, at the south-east end of the site and at the rear of 64-68 Low Petergate; and an area to the north-west behind No. 62 Low Petergate which was, subject to watching brief conditions, machine excavated under supervision. Archaeological interventions were carried out by a team of York Archaeological Trust (YAT) archaeologists in both areas to criteria set out in the archaeological specification by City of York Council.

Additional and investigative trenches

Three trenches were necessary in addition to the main excavation, two for an electricity substation and service trench and one for a lift pit. Within the main excavation area three investigative trenches were dug in order to sample deposits in areas where minimal excavation was deemed necessary. The 2004 trenches were therefore numbered 4-9, in order to distinguish them from trenches 1-3 from the 2003 excavation.

Tenements

The results of the excavation have been phased on a tenemental basis in order to show successive activities or building phases within the four tenements where possible.