TIME TEAM - THIRD SITE CONFIRMED

The third site that the Time Team will be excavating over 3rd-5th September
has now been confirmed. Details of the three sites follow:


The Royal York Hotel

This former railway hotel next to York station was built by the Victorians
over a Roman graveyard. Time Team's challenge is to find cremations,
coffins...perhaps even skeletons as well as the objects the departed chose
to take to the next life with them. Everything from coins and jewellery to
tools and children's toys. Who were the people buried here 1800 years ago?
Where had they come from? What were their occupations, social status and
religious beliefs? These are all the questions the Time Team will be trying
to answer, along with analysis of human remains which might provide vital
clues as to how they lived.........and died. 


St Leonard's Hospital

This Scheduled Ancient Monument in the Museum Gardens near York Library,
holds the ruins of an enormous medieval hospital established by the son of
William the Conqueror around 1100. It was the second biggest hospital in
Britain, where a dedicated order of monks looked after 200 of the local
poor, sick and orphaned. It was partially excavated in the 1930's but
records from the period are scant. The Time Team excavation may recover
artefacts and ruins of the hospital buildings which could throw light on the
unique conditions and lifestyle in this important and powerful medieval
institution.


Walmgate

Now just a derelict plot, Time Team believes that 1200 years ago this was a
bustling part of the Viking City of Jorvik. But proving it isn't going to be
easy. York contains one of Britain's very few 'wet' sites where organic
materials survive - ancient wood and leather lying alongside the usual
pottery, bricks and mortar - a vast buried morass of soggy archaeology. Just
to get to the Viking levels the team will have the uncomfortable job of
working through metres of modern and medieval remains before hopefully
uncovering a corner of the city once ruled by the notorious Eric Bloodaxe.
It should be a fascinating insight into how city life has changed over the
last millennium.

The Time Team Live event will be broadcast over the Channel 4 website -
www.channel4.com/timeteamlive <http://www.channel4.com/timeteamlive> 

Again, if you would like any further details please contact me, Helen
Robertson.


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