Post-excavation Assessment, Mill Mount, York
Summary
This documents represents a post-excavation assessment of a scheme of archaeological excavation and watching brief at Mill Mount, York (NGR SE 5945 5102). The work was undertaken by Field Archaeology Specialists Ltd on behalf of Mike Griffiths and Associates Ltd for Shepherd Homes Ltd. Fieldwork was undertaken in a main phase of excavation between the 4th August and 6th December 2004 (Interventions 2 to 7), preceded by a single trench to test for the presence of contamination on the 2nd May 2004 (Intervention 1); the watching brief was undertaken intermittently between the 18th January and 14th April 2005 (Intervention 8). Fieldwork encountered remains dating from the 2nd century AD to the modern day.
The earliest activity appears to be represented by a Roman buried soil encountered intermittently across the site, into which a number of postholes were excavated; the postholes and ditches appear to have been aligned and may have demarcated boundaries or divisions of land running perpendicular to the projected line of the Roman road along The Mount. This period, which also saw some limited excavation of pits, was followed by use of the site as part of the Roman cemetery, represented by both cremations and inhumations. A total of two cremations, thirteen coffined inhumations and a stone sarcophagus with gypsum-type burial were encountered. Subsequently, the site appears to have been put to more domestic use, encountered as a series of large pits possibly for the deposition of rubbish, a component of which might represent funerary offerings. Some pits were more sterile in nature; while their function remains unclear, it is possible that gravel or sand was being extracted. The Roman period culminated in large features being excavated in the southeastern part of the site, which may represent landscaping or terracing activity.
The early medieval period was represented primarily by residual or intrusive sherds of pottery, which seem to indicate some form of occupation in the vicinity; only a single feature of potential early medieval date was encountered. Likewise, despite documented activity at or near the site during the medieval period, only one feature, a large ditch, can be assigned to this period; no activity of post-medieval date was encountered, although some residual post-medieval and early modern ceramic was recovered.
From the mid-19th century, the site of Mill Mount was developed for two large villas, and the remainder of the features on the site are associated with the construction of brick-built housing and services.
Acknowledgements
Field Archaeology Specialists Ltd would like to thank John Oxley, Principal Archaeologist, City of York Council for his support and guidance during fieldwork. Thanks also go to Shepherd Homes Ltd for their generous support of the programme of public archaeology during fieldwork.