Palaeoclimate in urban environmental archaeology at York, England: Problems and potential

Recent excavations at York, which has a continuous history from Roman times to the present, have produced much biological evidence for early environmental conditions. Climate seems to have had only a minor role in causing the observed changes though it is difficult to separate its effect from that of other factors. Insects appear to offer the best hope of demonstrating minor climatic fluctuations, though artefacts may also provide evidence. Human activity seems to have been the most important factor in environmental change, causing flooding and the buildup of the thick archaeological deposits found in the city.