1976-1981: Coppergate Dig
The Coppergate Dig uncovered new and exciting facts about York’s prosperous Viking-era trade, providing evidence that the city was an important commercial hub between its capture by the Vikings in AD 866 and the Norman Conquest of AD 1066.
The Excavation in 1972
Until the 1970s, the only archaeological finds from the Viking Age were chance discoveries. However, this changed in 1972 during an excavation by the York Archaeological Trust beneath the Lloyds Bank Pavement. This small-scale excavation uncovered three significant new findings:
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The site contained up to 9 meters of archaeological layers dating primarily to the Viking Age – an unusually deep deposit.
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The moist, peaty conditions preserved a wealth of organic remains, including timber buildings, clothing textiles, and leather shoes – materials that typically decay at most archaeological sites.
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The peaty layers also preserved a trove of environmental evidence, such as seeds, insects, plants, animal bones, human parasites, and pollen. This provides invaluable data about the ancient climate, diet, health, countryside, and other aspects of the environment.
The excavation revealed that this area of York held a remarkably well-preserved record of the Viking Age, with deep deposits and excellent organic preservation – a stark contrast to the limited, chance finds that had characterized the period up until that point.
Continuing the Dig
The city council’s proposal for major redevelopment in Coppergate prompted agreement to allow further excavations while finalizing plans. In May 1976, excavations below modern basements provided a rare glimpse into the Viking Age, revealing traces of timber buildings.
The dig area was expanded to cover 1,000 square meters, enabling archaeologists to meticulously trowel through 2,000 years of history between 1976 and 1981. During this five-year period, the York Archaeological Trust identified and recorded approximately 40,000 archaeological contexts.
What was Found?
The archaeological site produced an impressive array of artifacts and materials, including:
- 5 tons of animal bones, mostly the remains of food consumed over the centuries
- Vast quantities of oyster shells, a once-common and inexpensive food source
- Thousands of Roman and medieval roof tiles, some of which were repurposed during the Viking Age
- Woven wattles used as building materials for walls, pathways, and screens
- Timber used for construction in both the Viking and Medieval periods
- Metal working slag, providing vital evidence of technological developments over time
- A quarter of a million pottery shards, which can be used for dating, provenance, and functional analysis
- Thousands of soil samples and preserved timbers recovered through meticulous sieving and cataloging
- 20,000 individually significant objects uncovered during the excavation
This comprehensive list highlights the diverse and well-preserved archaeological record found at the site, offering a rich trove of information about the site’s occupants and their activities over many centuries.
Who was Involved?
A diverse team of professional archaeologists, students, local volunteers, and even prison inmates worked together to excavate the site. Their efforts uncovered artifacts spanning York’s entire history, but the most remarkable discoveries were from the Viking era.
The Findings
This exceptional archaeological site in Jorvik (modern-day York) has provided unmatched insights into the daily lives of its Viking-era inhabitants. From the layout and construction of their homes and workplaces, to their economic activities, dietary habits, and leisure pursuits – the artifacts, remains, and other evidence uncovered have painted a remarkably detailed picture of how the people of Jorvik lived during that period.
Now the challenge is determining the best way to showcase these fascinating historical findings and share the stories they tell about the Viking Age community.