Cite this as: Savine, B. et al. 2026 Roman Occupation in the Extramural Settlement South-west of the colonia: Archaeological investigations at York Station Gateway, Queen Street, York, Internet Archaeology 71. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.71.7
Two trenches were excavated on Queen Street for the installation of telecommunication maintenance chambers. The two trenches were positioned approximately 200m apart; Trench 1 was south-west of the medieval city wall close to the junction of Queen Street, Micklegate, Nunnery Lane and Blossom Street, while Trench 2 was located north-west of the medieval defences opposite York Railway Station. The archaeological sequences encountered in each trench were very different.
Trench 1 revealed deposits containing artefacts indicative of high-status activity on or near the site during the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE, and which may have continued into the 4th century CE. The earliest features investigated were 2nd century CE pits, later sealed below dumps that may have been linked with the disposal of material generated as a result of development in the colonia during the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. The dumping also served to raise ground level to a point where ground conditions were drier. Following the elevation of ground level, pit digging and rubbish disposal returned to the site, hinting at occupation close by in the mid-3rd to 4th century CE. In the late 3rd to 4th century CE a fairly crude surface was laid down, which largely consisted of cobbles but also incorporated other hard-wearing material such as brick, roofing tile and fragments of amphora. A significant change in the character of activity at the site then occurred in the 4th century CE, with what appears to be an accumulation of agricultural soil. Pit digging for refuse disposal resumed in the 11th/13th century, hinting at a return to activity of a more urban character at the site.
Trench 2 was situated on the south-eastern periphery of the Railway Station cemetery. Some evidence for Roman period funerary activity was found, including disarticulated human bone and Roman pottery. However, the remains appear disturbed or redeposited during construction of the railway station in the 19th century.
Corresponding author: Benjamin Savine
[email protected]
York Archaeology
Illustrations by B. Price unless otherwise stated.
Figure 1: Site location
Figure 2: Trench 1, Phases 1 naturally occurring deposits, Phase 2 pits and Phase 4 pit [1028]
Figure 3: Trench 1, Phase 3 dumping and pit
Figure 4: Trench 1, Phase 3 dumping and pits, Phase 4 pits
Figure 5: Pit [1030], looking north-west. 0.1m scale units. Image credit: York Archaeology
Figure 6: Pit [1026], looking north. 0.1m scale units. Image credit: York Archaeology
Figure 7: Dumped deposit/levelling (1024), looking south-east. 0.1m scale units. Image credit: York Archaeology
Figure 8: Trench 1, Phase 5 surface (1017)
Figure 9: Cobble surface (1017), looking west. 0.1m scale units. Image credit: York Archaeology
Figure 10: Trench 1, Phase 5 possible structural remains and silting
Figure 11: Trench 1, Phase 6 agricultural soil and Phase 7 pit
Figure 12: Phase 7 pit [1005], looking south-west. 0.1m scale units. Image credit: York Archaeology
Figure 13: Made ground (2004) in Trench 2, looking south. 0.5m scale units. Image credit: York Archaeology
Figure 14: Phase 2 pottery (illustrated by D.G. Griffiths)
Figure 15: Phase 3 pottery (illustrated by D.G. Griffiths)
Figure 16: More Phase 3 pottery (illustrated by D.G. Griffiths)
Figure 17: Phase 4 pottery (illustrated by D.G. Griffiths)
Figure 18: More Phase 4 pottery (illustrated by D.G. Griffiths)
Figure 19: Even more Phase 4 pottery (illustrated by D.G. Griffiths)
Figure 20: Phase 5 pottery (illustrated by D.G. Griffiths)
Figure 21: More Phase 5 pottery (illustrated by D.G. Griffiths)
Figure 22: Phases 7 and 8 pottery (illustrated by D.G. Griffiths)
Table 1: Romano-British pottery ware, count, weight and estimated vessel equivalents (EVEs)
Table 2: All pottery by ware and class
Table 3: Fine wares by class
Table 4: Samian forms by estimated vessel equivalents (EVEs) and maximum number of vessels (MNV)
Table 5: Samian ware by form and function based on maximum number of vessels (MNV)
Table 6: Bulk samian ware by source
Table 7: All pottery by Romano-British phase and feature (Download only)
Table 8: Pottery form and function by phase
Table 9: Relative proportions of bulk pottery from Queen Street and Guildhall (Griffiths and Britton 2023)
Table 10: Number of Identified Specimens (NISP) from hand-collected bone
Table 11: Number of Identified Specimens (NISP) from environmental residues
Table 12: Elements represented for the main domesticates in the 3rd–4th century CE dumping and pit Phase 3 (fusion is stated by F for fused, UH for unfused, and P for proximal and D for distal)
Table 13: Elements represented for the main domesticates in the 3rd–4th century CE pit Phase 4 (fusion is stated by F for fused, UH for unfused, and P for proximal and D for distal)
Table 14: Key to tables 12 and 13
Table 15: CBM by form in relation to period
Table 16: CBM and stone roof flags in relation to context
Table 17: Building stone catalogue
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