Medieval stained glass found in first few days of excavation
The pristine library lawn was the scene of intense activity in the week before the project began. A number of massive Roman sarcophagi (coffins) were removed from the site of Trench 1. The whole site was fenced and a turf guard walkway was laid out for public access.
On Wednesday 13 June, the site was formally opened by the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Irene Waudby, accompanied by the Sheriff, Councillor Janet Greenwood. Local press and TV were on hand to record the event. Others present included Geoff Bowling from York Central Library, adjacent to the site, which has mounted an exhibition about the site.
What the first
week uncovered!
The first group of trainee diggers
has arrived, seen below as they begin to turn their hand to the excavation,
and with site director Kurt Hunter-Mann.In
the first week, despite some very heavy showers, all three trenches have
been opened and the 1999 Time Team trench can be seen in Trench 3. Evidence
for the creation of an architectural garden in the 1840s has also been
identified. Traces of the stables and a house, which succeeded the hospital
complex, have also been found in Trenches 1 and 2.
Finds
A good range of Roman and medieval pottery has already been found, including
medieval jug handles, and also butchery-marked bones. The most spectacular
find has been a beautiful fragment of medieval stained glass.The glass
seems to show the wing of an angel who is swinging a censer, and the head
of another angel with its halo. According to Dr. C. Pamela Graves, Durham
University stained glass expert, it is very like the 14th century glass
in the nave of York Minster, and probably represents a group of angels
in an acclamation scene. Although much painted glass survives in York
from the Minster and parish churches, glass from medieval hospitals is
relatively rare. The quality of this find is an exciting indication of
what may lie ahead.
Left to right
Pat Lomax (Exeter)
Kate Russell (Huddersfield)
Eleana Vandyk (Isleworth, Middlesex)
Kaye Batchelor ( New Zealand)
Audra Beard (Dallas, Texas)
