We Dig Willow House
Training Excavation 2022 (York)
Lives within the walls - Exploring 2000 years of work, war and worship on Walmgate!
In 2021, we made our first foray beyond the walls of York to uncover the remains of a lost range of mysterious post-medieval buildings in Fulford. This year, we are returning to the heart of the city, to investigate a fascinating site nestled in the shadow of York’s famous City Walls.
Located a stone’s throw from Walmgate Bar, the best-preserved of York’s medieval gateways, the site has the potential to illuminate a number of key periods in the history of the city.
The Industrial Revolution - the arrival of new factories, foundries and cattle markets and the boom in population that followed in the 19th century led to an explosion of construction work. Open pasture and gardens were rapidly covered in densely occupied terraced houses with poor sanitation and few modern comforts. Exploring the lives of the people that called Walmgate home in this time of poverty and change will be a key aim of the excavation.
The English Civil War - the Walmgate area was bombarded by cannon fire for almost four months during the siege of York in 1644. Will any evidence of this period of violence and bloodshed survive?
A medieval mystery - built before 1279, the church of St. Peter-in-the-Willows occupied part of the site until its demolition in 1549. Little is known about the history and development of this church and other than brief glimpses of what may be wall footings, no conclusive evidence of its exact location has ever been found. Could our team finally put St. Peter’s back on the map? In addition, the full layout of the churchyard and the location of medieval buildings and yards around it are yet to be discovered. There’s a lot to learn!
The Viking Age - many of the present-day plot boundaries along Walmgate were laid out in the 10th century and extensive evidence of Anglo-Scandinavian activity has been found in the area. We know that the area was a hotspot of trade and enterprise in the Viking Age, so we’re very excited to investigate these deposits.
Early origins - we believe that Walmgate was first laid out by the Romans, however, there have also been a number of prehistoric find spots in the locality. The origins of the area are poorly understood, could we add a valuable piece to the puzzle in 2022?
Quite a lot to do then… See you in the trench!
Provisional Schedule
| Day | Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3 | Session 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Inductions and orientation | Site tour and introduction to Single Context system | Excavation and recording | Excavation and recording |
| Tuesday | Excavation and recording | Specialist session | Excavation and recording | Finds processing |
| Wednesday | Excavation and recording | Finds processing | Specialist session | Excavation and recording |
| Thursday | Specialist session | Excavation and recording | Excavation and recording | Finds processing |
| Friday | Excavation and recording | Specialist session | Excavation and recording | Finds processing |
Details
Cost*:
One week - £300
Two weeks - £525
Longer courses can possibly be arranged - please contact us at TrainingDig@yorkat.co.uk
Sessions:
20 June - 25 June
27 June - 1 July
4 July - 8 July
11 July - 15 July
18 July - 22 July
25 July - 29 July
1 August - 5 August
8 August - 12 August
*Please note, the cost does not include accommodation. That is the responsibility of each trainee.
Any questions? Contact us at TrainingDig@yorkat.co.uk
GOOD NEWS!!
Thanks to popular demand, we’re offering one-day taster sessions on Thursdays and Fridays throughout September.
These sessions have been extremely popular in previous years and are perfect for anyone looking for a bitesize introduction to the excitement of archaeological fieldwork.
The sessions will take place at Willow House, adjacent to Walmgate Bar on September 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, and 30th.
The cost of each session is £60 per day and you can book your tickets by clicking the button below!
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