St Thomas Street / Chapman's Yard, Scarborough. A programme of Archaeological Investigations

An archaeological evaluation and subsequent excavation was undertaken by Birmingham Archaeology, of land off North Street, Scarborough. The work was commissioned by Phoenix Consulting Archaeology Ltd, initially on behalf of Crest Nicholson Estates and subsequently by Hampton Brook Developments Ltd. The work was undertaken in order to inform the planning process prior to the proposed development of the site. Subsequent to the building work a final phase of watching brief took place in Spring 2004. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded during that phase of work. The fieldwork was carried out on the site in January 2003. The evaluation of seven trenches illustrated that across the majority of the site extensive post-medieval building foundations and associated areas of levelling and drainage had severely reduced the potential for the recovery of surviving medieval remains. However, archaeological evidence proved to survive somewhat better in two trenches (5 and 7), such that it was required that they be extended, each to a minimum area of 5.0m by 5.0m. Overall, two phases of activity were identifiable. These two phases were quite broadly defined due to the widespread impact of later medieval and post-medieval activity on the site. Phase 1 (late medieval to early post-medieval), was characterised by a number of pits or tanks exposed in Trench 5. The recovered artefacts suggest that these features related to a phase of archaeological activity during or just after the late medieval period. The presence of post-medieval pottery and pieces of clay-pipe at the base of a number of features in the Trench 5 was indicative of the view that the potential for extensive survival of medieval remains was unlikely. Phase 2 (late post-medieval to early modern), was characterised by a number of parallel linear features representing a network of drains. These contained waterlogged deposits and an interesting assemblage of pottery. In addition, further pits and linear features were exposed. Overall, evidence of early modern building activity throughout the site highlighted the widespread nature of trunctation and disturbance. Subsequently, a watching brief was undertaken at Chapman's Yard, Scarborough. The project was commissioned by Phoenix Consulting on behalf of Crest Nicholson Properties Ltd. Documentary evidence and previous field evaluation of the site suggested the presence of an early medieval settlement, a medieval church, a cemetery and hospital, together with an eighteenth century poorhouse and a nineteenth century workhouse. However, much of the Chapman's Yard area was truncated by nineteenth century cellars, reducing the potential for surviving earlier deposits. The watching brief identified nineteenth century layer of black silt containing residual seventeenth to nineteenth century ceramics. The animal bone assemblage suggested butchery and tanning had formerly taken place at Chapman's Yard. A large stone built reservoir was identified on the site, which appears to have been contemporary with mid-nineteenth century buildings.

伯明翰考古事务所（Birmingham Archaeology）对斯卡伯勒市北街周边地块开展了考古评估与后续发掘工作。本次工作最初由克雷斯特·尼科尔森地产公司（Crest Nicholson Estates）委托凤凰咨询考古有限公司（Phoenix Consulting Archaeology Ltd）承接，后转由汉普顿布鲁克开发有限公司（Hampton Brook Developments Ltd）接手。开展本次工作的目的是为该地块拟建开发项目的前期规划流程提供考古学支撑。建筑施工结束后，项目组于2004年春季开展了最后一轮考古监护（watching brief）工作，该阶段未发现任何具有考古价值的遗存。

田野工作于2003年1月在该地块展开。对7个探方的考古评估结果显示，地块大部分区域内广泛分布的后中世纪建筑基址，以及与之配套的垫土与排水设施，已大幅降低了该区域出土中世纪遗存的可能性。不过，探方5与探方7内的考古遗存保存状况相对较好，因此需将这两个探方分别扩至至少5.0米×5.0米的作业面积。

整体可识别出两期人类活动遗存。由于后期中世纪与后中世纪活动对遗址造成了广泛扰动，两期遗存的划分边界较为宽泛。第1期（中世纪晚期至后中世纪早期）以探方5内揭露的若干坑穴或储水池为典型特征。出土人工制品表明，这些遗迹属于中世纪晚期或稍晚时期的考古活动遗存。探方5内多数遗迹底部出土的后中世纪陶器与陶制烟斗残片，进一步印证了该区域难以保存大量中世纪遗存的判断。

第2期（后中世纪晚期至近代早期）以代表排水管网的多组平行线状遗迹为典型特征，这些遗迹内保存有水浸沉积与一批颇具学术价值的陶器组合。此外，项目组还揭露了更多坑穴与线状遗迹。整体而言，全区域范围内发现的近代早期建筑活动遗存，凸显了遗址被广泛截断与扰动的现状。

随后，项目组在斯卡伯勒的查普曼庭院（Chapman's Yard）开展了考古监护工作。本次项目由克雷斯特·尼科尔森地产有限公司（Crest Nicholson Properties Ltd）委托凤凰咨询公司承接。文献记载与此前的遗址考古评估结果显示，该区域曾存在中世纪早期聚落、中世纪教堂、墓地与中世纪济贫院（hospital），以及18世纪济贫院与19世纪贫民习艺所（workhouse）。不过，查普曼庭院的大部分区域已被19世纪的地窖破坏，早期遗存的保存可能性大幅降低。

本次考古监护工作揭露了一层19世纪的黑淤泥层，其中包含17至19世纪的残留陶瓷器。出土的动物骨骼组合表明，查普曼庭院曾存在屠宰与制革活动。项目组还在地块内发现一座大型石砌蓄水池，其年代应与19世纪中期的建筑同期。