Our Research, Collections & Archives
The York collection represents one of the most extensive archaeological assemblages from Britain and is of national, regional and local importance. The archive contains site records, artefacts and ecofacts from over 800 archaeological interventions. They range from major excavations to small evaluations and watching briefs.
The research potential is immense, as our collection includes a wide range of material types including artefacts, environmental soil samples, human remains and architectural fragments.
As the excavations were spread across the city they offer the potential to study specific districts as well as specific periods of history; given that the deposits excavated cover all periods of British history from the Romans to the Victorians.
Inherit
Inherit — the York Archaeological Trust’s Institute for Heritage & Sustainable Human Development — supports community development through cultural heritage.
Digital Archive
The archives of York Archaeology holds records related to our excavations, publications, and attractions. The excavation archive contains site recording books, plans and cards, research reports, publication text, images and drawings, and correspondence. The publications and attractions archives contain concept art, original designs, draft publications, and correspondence. There is also an extensive photographic archive in a range of formats including slides and large- and medium-format negatives.
An ongoing digitisation project aims to make many of these resources available online, a process which has already begun with our Slide Digitisation Scheme
Digital Library
In the early 1970s, shortly after its foundation, York Archaeological Trust created The Archaeology of York, a 20-volume series intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the Trust’s excavations. Each volume addresses a particular topic within the archaeology and history of York, divided into individual parts, or fascicules. There are now 72 fascicules in the series detailing our excavations, and the artefactual, skeletal, and environmental evidence uncovered. Many are now out of print but are available for free download here
Research Projects
As well as offering archaeological research services to its clients, York Archaeology conducts and facilitates research in a number of priority areas, drawing on its in-house expertise and working in partnership with a range of organisations in the UK and overseas.
Get Involved with York Archaeology Research
Volunteers in our Collections and Archives team in York help us to catalogue and care for the artefacts and the records held in our archives.