The Hungate redevelopment scheme is set to spark York's biggest archaeological project since the flagship Coppergate dig. Mike Laycock looks back at that excavation - and ahead to what hidden secrets may be uncovered in Hungate.

TONY Robinson and his Time Team should make a note in their diaries now.

Something of massive archaeological importance is set to happen in York, which must surely lure the popular TV programme back to the city.

If planners approve the proposed £150 million redevelopment of the rundown Hungate area off Stonebow, it will lead to the city's most significant and extensive excavations since the Coppergate dig in the late 1970s.

That project created huge public interest and was a massive draw for tourists. I personally remember visiting the city as a student and watching the dig with fascination from a public viewing area.

It unearthed an astonishing historic treasure, an Anglo-Saxon helmet in near perfect condition, which is now on display at the Yorkshire Museum.

It also prompted the York Archaeological Trust to launch the pioneering Jorvik Viking Centre, which helped draw millions of tourists to the city through the 1980s and 90s to the present day.

Now experts believe Hungate could do for tourism in the 21st century what Coppergate did in the 20th.

They are also wondering just what might be unearthed during a £3.3 million, five-year dig on the Hungate site, which has been settled since the Romans were in York.

An evaluation, involving trenches and boreholes, has shown that the area has outstanding potential, and can be considered of national significance.

There is evidence of a major Roman road and cemetery including the urns of two people from the second or third century, a Roman dock, a medieval church, and the hall of the medieval guild of the Cordwainers.

One of the urns was in perfect condition, with the cremated remains undisturbed from the time they were buried 1,800 years ago.

The work also established the location of a medieval church called St John in the Marsh, as well as uncovering remains from the Viking and Anglian periods.

A report to councillors says that the project "offers an unrivalled opportunity to examine a large area of central York and trace the history of the communities which have lived and died in the area over the last two thousand years."

The plan is to involve the local community and wider public at every stage of the project, with schoolchildren, students, academics, tourists and local residents all offered a hands-on opportunity for learning.

Archaeologist Mike Griffiths, of Mike Griffiths & Associates, who led the Hungate evaluation programme, said: "We are anticipating huge public interest from day one, both as observers and participants."

He said the area was the site of a medieval rubbish dump, with butchers from Shambles dumping their waste there, and there could be parts of Roman boats in the docks. "We could find anything. If you knew exactly what you would find, it would be very boring, but the potential is there."

He said the dig was likely to be of international interest, with the possibility that people from around the world would be able to follow it on the Internet via a webcam.

Updated: 10:09 Friday, July 22, 2005