Our History

York Archaeological Trust is set up to help preserve the vast collection of archaeological deposits that document 2,000 years of York’s history, in response to threats posed to the City’s archaeological heritage at the time.

From 1972, YAT expands to four offices across the UK, delivers over 400 excavations, conducts in excess of 1,500 watching briefs, opens five attractions that have welcomed over 20-million visitors and develops an extensive and innovative public engagement programme for audiences of all ages.

Excavations unearth the Roman sewer below the Roman bathhouse in York.

Five years of excavations at Coppergate in the centre of York reveal unprecedented remains of the Viking city of Jorvik . Over 40,000 individual objects, including wooden buildings, shoes, household objects, imported goods from across the Viking world and environmental evidence, paint a new and exciting vision of our Viking past.

A remarkable survival story, this helmet is one of the most important Anglo-Saxon artefacts ever found. The skill shown in its construction and beauty of its decoration is revealed through painstaking and pioneering work at YAT’s Conservation Laboratory. A lasting collaboration with the radiography department at York hospital is formed.

Foss Bank/Jewbury excavation reveals a medieval Jewish cemetery

Celebrating everything Viking, YAT holds its first Viking Festival of Jobalot in February 1985. Attracting visitors from across the world the Festival is now recognised as the largest of its kind in Europe.

After purchasing Barley Hall in 1987, YAT, begins piecing together the medieval layout so they can start its reconstruction and open it to the public as a museum to tell the stories of its intriguing past.

The Government quality assurance scheme recognises the high standards of YAT’s governance, the quality of finds curation and its imaginative public and educational services. 

Two years after the remains of a third century AD boat built in the “Romano-Celtic” tradition was uncovered during construction of a warehouse near Magor, South Wales, the timbers are sent to YAT for conservation and a 4 metre freeze-dryer is commissioned specifically to dry the timbers
following PEG wax immersion. Thus, begins YAT’s large-scale commercial wood conservation operation, and with some TLC the 4 metre dryer is still in operation some 22 years later

YAT’s inaugural Archaeology Live! training dig is established in the west corner of York’s Roman legionary fortress, which later became the site of the medieval St Leonard’s Hospital. This, and subsequent summer seasons located elsewhere in York and, more recently, in Nottingham, allow many hundreds of trainees of all ages to participate in YAT’s work, learn new skills and gather lasting memories. The excavation and subsequent analysis and publication is entirely funded by the trainees.

Part of a large cemetery on the outskirts of the Roman town of Eboracum, reveals 82 inhumations of young male adults. Cuts to the necks of at least 50% of the individuals indicates that they had been decapitated.  Several had their heads placed in their graves in usual positions, such as near the feet. Subsequent research enables YAT to create the popular touring exhibition - Gladiators -a cemetery of secrets'. 

After receiving almost £1-million from the Millennium Commission, DIG opens to the public in March 2006. Building on its previous incarnation as The Archaeological Resource Centre, DIG places hands-on discovery at the centre of its offer and has gone on to welcome more than 50,000 visitors every year, over half of whom are primary school children.

During the excavation of an Iron Age landscape at University of York, a skull, with the jaw and two vertebrae still attached is discovered face down in a pit, without any evidence of what had happened to the rest of its body. When the top of the skull is removed it reveals an astonishingly well-preserved human brain. 

JORVIK mark III launches with 'Artefacts Alive'.

The Octon Farmhouse project restores a unique cruck-framed farm house in the Yorkshire Wolds.

For, perhaps, the world's most famous prehistoric monument, ArcHeritage develops innovative luminance lensing techniques to examine the surfaces of the stones for new prehistoric rock carvings, and discover information about the working of the stones during construction and development of the monument. 

The purchase of the new building emphasises YAT's continued commitment to the preservation and investigation of the archaeology of York revealed over decades of YAT excavations. Public tours are hosted by curatorial staff for visitors wanting a glimpse into York's remarkable past.

Having acquired the management of both Micklegate and Monk Bar, YAT launches two dynamic new attractions to explore the 26 turbulent years of rule by Richard III and Henry VII and the impact that these two successive monarchs had on York and its people. 

Commissioned in July 2015 for extensive excavation and monitoring at the Scheduled Monument of Little Chester Roman fort (Derby), TPA successfully delivers the complete excavation programme within 13 months. Completion to budget and on time allows smooth progression within the scheme, as part of the construction of flood defences within the City of Derby. 

JORVIK Viking Centre re-opens on Saturday, 8th April 2017, 16 months after closure due to flooding: on time, on budget and having raised almost £1.2 million towards the £4.5 million rebuilding costs. Over the opening weekend alone JORVIK welcomes almost 4,000 visitors - all keen to experience the newly re-imagined sights, sounds and smells of Viking-age York. 

YAT's Historic England funded project 'Food for Thought' develops a new approach for regional research strategies that seeks to define research interests and priorities from the local population and stakeholders within a broad academic framework. A series of innovative public events and creative initiatives are designed to engage with a wide range of audiences from across the Yorkshire Wolds. 

A five-year project by Trent and Peak provides commercial archaeological and heritage services to Nottingham City Council during the £29.4 million redevelopment of Nottingham Castle. Works include major archaeological excavations on the site of a new visitor centre and 'Robin Hood' gallery, and the development of a bespoke 'We Dig Castles' training and community excavation offer for the site focusing on an annual summer excavation in the Outer Bailey

 It included a wooden shield which our conservation team 'micro-excavated, analysed and consolidated using the wealth of their skills. 

Our Community Engagement and Fieldwork teams deliver the first pilot of YAT's new social prescribing project, Archaeology on Prescription, aiming to engage the City of York and all its residents in archaeology to improve health and wellbeing, foster meaningful social connections and build self-esteem and confidence. 

Modelled as a Georgian coffee shop, Barley Hall Coffee Shop has been popular since opening and has hosted a number of events over Festival and, more recently, Price month where it was transformed into a Molly House. Day to day it features a selection of artefacts, as well as locally sourced produce and our own blend from York Emporium!