52 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF YORK AND DISTRICT 



VIII. 



ROMAN EXCAVATIONS AT YORK 



BY 



THE REV. A. RAINE, 



HON. SECRETARY, YORK ROMAN EXCAVATIONS COMMITTEE. 



The object of this article is to outline the story of the York Roman 

 excavations, 1925-8, and to give a summary of their results. In 1922 the 

 idea of carrying out some scientific excavation at York was mentioned 

 to Sir C. R. Peers by the writer. In 1923 H.M. Office of Works granted 

 permission for work to be begun at the north-east angle of the Roman 

 fortress, where it was hoped to find some remains of a corner tower. 



In order that the work might be co-ordinated with other Roman excava- 

 tions in Yorkshire it was decided that it should be carried on under the zegis 

 of the Roman Antiquities Committee of the Yorkshire Archa;ological 

 Society. On May 2, 1925, a meeting was held at the Mansion House, 

 York, and a General Committee was chosen, of which the Archbishop 

 of York (Dr. Lang) consented to be President, the Lord Mayor Chairman, 

 and Edwin Gray, J.P., the Hon. Treasurer. Mr. S. N. Miller, Lecturer 

 in Roman Antiquities at Glasgow University, was asked to undertake the 

 direction and supervision of the work. Mr. Miller was in charge through 

 the four seasons of excavation, and published two reports on the work 

 in the Journal of Roman Studies. From first to last the York City Cor- 

 poration rendered every possible help, not only giving generous financial 

 assistance, but also allowing us to employ their experienced workmen 

 and to use their tools and materials. 



The object of the excavations was to gain some definite information 

 about the history of the legionary fortress, about which little was known. 

 Certain obvious limits to the work were plain from the beginning. The 

 area within the line of the fortress wall is almost completely covered with 

 buildings, so the excavation had to be limited to the defences which lie 

 beneath the existing mediaeval walls and rampart. It was felt, however, 

 that work on the defences would in all probability give us the historical 

 data we needed ; and, further, there was a possibility that at the north-east 

 corner we might find some structural remains which could be left open, 

 and give to York another monument of its greatness in Roman days. 



For a detailed account of the excavations the reader is referred to the 

 Journal of Roman Studies, 1926 and 1928. 



The work lasted for four seasons : 



1925, September — October. Excavations were begun at the north- 

 east corner, and unexpectedly fine remains of the tower were brought to 

 light. A trench was also cut at the one available unoccupied spot along 

 the eastern defence line. 



