Land To West Of Market Place, Ripon, North Yorkshire. Desk-Based Assessment.

Following a proposed development for a Booths supermarket to the west of the Market Place in Ripon, North Yorkshire (centred on SE 3110 7135) by Maple Grove Developments Ltd, a programme of archaeological assessment was requested by the
North Yorkshire Archaeological Services. This was to consist of the enhancement of an existing desk-based assessment carried out in 1995, with emphasis on incorporating the results of archaeological work carried out since, and the presentation of a research agenda. Oxford Archaeology North were commissioned by Corstorphine and Wright Hills Erwin, on behalf of Maple Grove Developments Ltd, to undertake
the required work in September 2003.
This report is focussed around the early medieval religious core in the east of the city centre of Ripon. The surrounding area is rich in prehistoric remains, particularly large henge monuments, but within the immediate vicinity only a few find spots are known.
The Roman period is similar in that although the city is close to a major Roman road and there are important sites within a few kilometres, evidence within Ripon is limited
to a few finds. One of these, a burial urn, was discovered just to the north of the study area.