Wakefield Cathedral, Internal Refurbishment Phase 2, Archaeological Excavation and Structural Watching Brief Report

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by William Anelay Ltd, on behalf of the Dean and Chapter of Wakefield Cathedral to carry out archaeological works within the Cathedral and a watching brief on the erection of a replica Anglo-Saxon cross within the Cathedral Precinct as part of the Phase 2 refurbishment works. The internal works comprised excavation within the Quire Aisles and a Structural Watching Brief. Excavation took place in two discrete areas in the north and south Quire Aisles. Individual lead-lined coffins, unlined wooden coffins and brick vaults with coffins were located in both areas. A series of mason's marks were recorded and a revised phasing plan for this part of the Cathedral was produced. A watching brief was maintained on groundworks within the Cathedral precinct. Trench 1 was excavated to facilitate the reinternment of disarticulated human bone recovered from recent archaeological works associated with the internal Phase 2 refurbishment of the Cathedral. Trench 2 was excavated as a foundation trench for the erection of a newly-carved replica of the 10th century Wakefield Cross. The watching brief revealed a small quantity of disarticulated human skeletal material from the two trenches as well as the presence of in-situ graves The osteological assemblage from the Phase 2 works demonstrated a mixed demographic as would be expected from this burial context.