York Archaeological Trust
The York Archaeological Trust for Excavation and Research Limited (YAT) is an educational charity,[1] established in 1972 in the city of York, England. It carries out archaeological investigations, fieldwork, excavation and research in York, Yorkshire and throughout Britain and beyond. Its staff include specialists in archaeological excavation, historic building analysis and recording, artefact curation, conservation and research, archaeological computing, and illustration and design.
York Archaeological Trust | |
Type | Charity |
Industry | |
Founded | 1972 |
Headquarters | York , United Kingdom |
Website | www![]() |

YAT/Jorvik Group locations in York |
Commercial operations
YAT primarily provides archaeological services to fulfill planning conditions, serving clients from private individuals to local authorities and commercial developers, as a company operating within the commercial archaeology sector.
In 2011, Trent and Peak Archaeology was taken over by YAT, allowing extension of their commercial archaeology operations to Nottingham.[2]
YAT also operates ArcHeritage in Sheffield to extend the archaeological services offered by the Trust,[3] and Northlight Heritage in Glasgow, a social enterprise promoting better use of heritage resources.[2][4]
Visitor attractions
It created and runs the Jorvik Viking Centre in Coppergate Walk, York, which is noted for its living history approach. The centre is on the site of the Trust's 'Viking Dig' which contributed to archaeologists' knowledge of town life in Viking Age England.[5] Other sites in York run by the Jorvik Group are:
- Barley Hall, an excavated and reconstructed medieval house in Coffee Yard, off Stonegate
- DIG: an archaeological adventure in St Saviour's Church, St Saviourgate
- Richard III Experience at Monk Bar
- Henry VII Experience at Micklegate Bar
Since the 1980s, the Jorvik Viking Festival has been run by YAT each February half term.[6]
The trust publishes printed and web-based reports, popular books and information resources. It offers opportunities to take part in archaeological investigation through its annual training excavation 'Archaeology Live', and hosts the Community Archaeologist for York.
References
- Charity Commission. York Archaeological Trust for Excavation and Research Limited, registered charity no. 509060.
- "About Us". tparchaeology. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- "About Us". www.archeritage.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- "What We Do". northlight-heritage.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- Jones 1990, pp. 258–260.
- "History". jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
Bibliography
- Jones, Andrew (1990). "Archaeological Reconstruction and Education at the Jorvik Viking Centre and Archaeological Research Centre, York, UK". In Planel, Philippe; Stone, Peter G. (eds.). Constructed Past: Experimental Archaeology, Education and the Public. London, UK: Routledge. pp. 258–268. ISBN 9781134828289.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)