Talk to explain Guildhall excavation findings (From York Press)

Talk to explain Guildhall excavation findings

9:24am Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

HIDDEN history stretching back centuries is coming under the spotlight in York this week.

An 18th century wig-curler, a fragment of a comb dating from Viking times and a seal from an 18th century wine bottle were discovered during the York 800 dig at the city’s civic base, Guildhall, this summer.

The results of the excavation will be explained by Dr Mark Whyman, of York Archaeological Trust (YAT), at a talk tomorrow as part of City of York Council’s Local Democracy Week.

The council commissioned the dig from YAT as part of the York 800 celebrations, marking 800 years of local democracy in the city, as previous digs had not been thoroughly documented.

Three trenches were dug – one in the cellar beneath the Mansion House arch, one in the Guildhall Yard and the third in the underground Common Hall Lane.

As well as pieces of Roman pottery, the dig revealed a finely-built wall which may have been built before Guildhall – itself dating back to the 1440s – and evidence of domestic waste which suggested people made the area their home before the building became the home of York democracy.

The dig received a visit from Professor Mick Aston, previously part of Channel 4’s Time Team.

Dr Whyman said: “As well as the significance of the archaeological evidence, the work has aroused a great deal of public, official and media interest and highlighted the important of the history of Guildhall in the development of civic society in York.”

The talk will be held in the Guildhall council chamber at 6pm. Places can be reserved by emailing fiona.young@york.gov.uk or phoning 01904 551027.