DIG History
The first city – Roman
York
The Romans built a fortress
in York, which they called Eboracum, in AD71. A city of magnificent
buildings including villas, barracks, temples, an amphitheatre
and public bath houses.
Some of the remains of Roman occupation can
be seen today, such as the Multangular Tower in the Museum
Gardens, which is the remains of the west corner of the fortress
wall.
The Vikings attacked and took
York in 866 – they called it Jorvik.
By 1066 there were between 10,000 and
15,000 people living here. The Vikings had a huge trading
network across Europe and beyond.
During the excavations of Coppergate, archaeologists
uncovered debris from industrial production and were able
to identify the homes and workshops of blacksmiths, antler
workers, wood workers and leatherworkers along with other
craftsmen.
The items produced were not only functional
but beautifully crafted.
Medieval Monastic Life
 By
the end of the Middle Ages York was a city full of churches.
There were eight monasteries and friaries, over 40 parish
churches, chapels, chantries and two important colleges.
The Gilbertine Priory of St Andrew at Fishergate was established
in the 13th century. Its excavation allowed us to study the
cemetery population, revealing new information about health,
diet, appearance and life expectancy.
When skeletons are found they are drawn and photographed
in situ. Special permission is needed to remove the remains
for further study.
Life in a Victorian City
 The
19th century saw rapid change in York. The population rose
dramatically with the expansion of industry. Small terraced
houses were built. Areas rapidly became overcrowded and unfit
for habitation.
The Victorian terrace that you can unearth at DIG was in
an area called Hungate and based on a house which originally
stood in Dundas Street.
People lived in terrible conditions, in dark cramped homes
with open sewers. Between the two World Wars this area along
with other slum areas of York was cleared.
CLICK HERE for information
about site tours of the current excavations at Hungate!
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