What Survives?
Have you ever wondered what survives in the ground? What artifacts can we find and what can they tell us about the past?
Layers of the past
People have lived in York for almost 2,000 years, and over that time they’ve left behind lots of traces of their lives. As centuries went by, layer after layer of remains—rubbish, buildings, lost objects—built up under the streets. That’s why archaeologists can dig deep here and uncover so much history.
York also sits in a special place—right where two rivers meet. The soil stays quite damp, and that’s actually really helpful for archaeology. When the ground is wet, it holds less oxygen, which slows down how fast things rot. Because of that, we can still find materials that would usually disappear—like wood, leather, or even tiny insect remains. We call these organic materials because they come from living plants or animals.
Sometimes, we find these things in old rubbish heaps or toilet pits—and yes, they can still smell strong when we uncover them! It might seem a bit gross, but it gives us a real look at everyday life from long ago
Not Everything Rots
We also find inorganic objects, which don’t come from living things. Pottery is a great example—it helped people cook, serve meals, and store things. We dig up bricks and tiles made from baked clay, and sometimes even metal tools or items. Metal can rust or corrode after staying in the ground for so long.
Whether things are organic or inorganic, many artefacts are quite fragile once they are out of the ground. Conservators need to clean and protect them carefully before we can study, touch, or display them. This process helps the objects stay safe, so they can keep sharing their stories for years to come.