YORYM 1997.125 DAVYGATE, YORK

 

Ceramic Building Materials

 

by S Garside-Neville

 

Roman Material

Roman material is represented by roof tile, possible hypocaust material, and brick.  The roof tile comprises tegula and imbrex.  The tegula has flanges of two sizes - massive (which may be associated particularly with earlier military activity, and a smaller size).  The identification of hypocaust material is by no means certain in this case, and is represented by one or two possible fragments of flue tile.  Some of the brick fragments may have also been used in a hypocaust, or perhaps in wall courses. 

 

There is a large amount of daub from this site which first appears in a Roman context, and is then associated with Roman finds mixed with later material.  This daub is well burnt and shows signs of wattle rod impressions.  There are also flat surfaces which probably points to use as walling.

 

Medieval Material

The medieval sample is particularly strong on material that can be dated to at least the 12th century,  or very possibly to the 11th century.  This material is curved and flanged tile, and also a form which has yet to be found in a complete state.  This form is characterised by a thin body (12mm or less), a yellow-green glaze, a distinctive fabric, scooped or stabbed keying on the lower surface, and a nailhole in one corner.    It is currently assumed that this is some type of roof tile, though it could have been used for a more specialised function.   The curved tile on this site appears in the conventional arched form, however there is an angled version of this tile is also present.  Interestingly both the angled curved tile and the distinctive roof tile appear in the sample from the Coppergate excavations.

 

Other medieval material present comprises plain tile (which is probably from peg or nib tile but cannot be identified due to lack of a diagnostic feature), and pegtile.  The pegtile is typical of York, having a square peghole placed at the top of the tile and centrally.  Pegtiles are common in York from the 13th century onwards. 

 

 

Conclusion

Considering the sample of material from Davygate is relatively small, it has a lot of interesting features.   It is recommended that the sample is retained as it can usefully contribute to the study of both ceramic building materials and of early medieval York.

 

Context Listing

Context                Form                                                          Date

u/s                        Tegula (massive, cutaway), Flanged,             12th

                                      Tegula (upper cutaway), Plain,

                                      Flue tile (burnt)

u/s Trench 26        Imbrex                                                         Roman

Interval Tower       Roman brick (reused)                                   Roman

25002                    Peg (top central square pegtile, B208mm)      13-16th

                                      Daub (small bag)

25003                    Daub (small bag, flat wall, very burnt)  ?

25005                    ?Plain (possibly flanged, reused)                   12th+

25007                    Roman brick, Roman brick (reused), Daub   Roman

                                      (small bag)

25008                    Curved, Daub (small bag, flat wall)               11-12th

25010                    Roman brick, ?Curved                                 12th+

25011                    Roman brick, Imbrex, Curved, Curved                   11-12th

                                      (angled type)

25012                    Imbrex, Roman brick, Plain (spots of glaze)  13-16th

                                      Roman brick (vitrified), Daub

                                      (medium bag, flat wall, wattle rod

                                      impressions)

25016                    Roman brick, ?Plain (nailhole, yellow/brown 11-12th

                                      glaze, T10mm), Curved

25017                    Daub                                                           Roman

25018                    Curved                                                        12th+

25019                    Plain (possibly flanged), Daub (small bag)     12th+

25020                    Roman brick (reused), Daub (small bag, flat  Roman

                                      wall)

25022                    Plain                                                            13-16th

25024                    Daub (small bag, flat wall)

25025                    Roman brick (burnt), ?Modern (v small frag),13th+

                                      ?Crested

25026                    Roman brick, Daub (small bag, flat wall)       Roman

25028                    Daub (medium bag, wattle rod impressions   ?

                                      flat wall)

25033                    Roman brick                                                Roman

25035                    ?Plain (green glaze, nailhole, scooped keying,12th+

                                      distinctive fabric, T12mm), Roman

                                      brick, Imbrex, Daub (medium bag,

                                      wattle rod impressions)

25037                    Roman brick (reused)                                   Roman

25038                    ?Plain (green glaze, T12mm), Daub (small     11-12th

                                      bag, and medium bag, wattle rod

                                      impressions, flat wall, very burnt frags)

                                      ?Plain

25041                    Curved (angled type)                                    11-12th

25042                    Daub (small bag)

25043                    Roman brick (reused), Daub (small bag,       Roman

                                      wattle rod impressions, flat wall)

25044                    Roman brick (reused), Roman brick             Roman

                                      Daub (large bag, wattle rod impressions

                                      flat wall)

25045                    ?Plain (Nailhole, green glaze, stabbed            12th+

                                      keying, T13mm), Roman brick

                                      (reused), Daub (small bag)

25049                    Daub (small bag, flat wall)

25050                    Tegula (massive, reused), Roman brick         Roman

                                      (burnt)

25052                    ?Roman brick                                              ?Roman

26000                    ?Plain (nailhole 4mm across, green glaze,      11-12th

                                      T12mm), ?Curved

26006                    Plain, Plain (reused), Plain (sooted)               13-16th

26013                    Flanged                                                       12th

26016                    Pantile, Roman brick, Plain ?Modern brick    17th+

26018                    Roman brick (+mortar), Tegula, ?Flue tile     Roman

26020                    Roman brick (vitrified), Roman brick,           Roman

                                      Roman brick (reused),  Limestone,

                                      ?Industrial material (sandstone, Roman

                                      brick and limestone mixed)`

26021                    Tegula (massive), Roman brick, Imbrex,       12th+

                                      Curved

26023                    Roman brick, Roman brick (burnt), ?Plain    12th+

26026                    Roman brick, Roman brick, Roman    Roman

                                      brick (overfired)

29003                    Flanged, Curved                                          12th

 

sgn 5/7/04