ABSTRACT
The interpretation and display of excavated archaeological sites for the public is rarely attempted in Britain, and even less frequently is it successful. Most attempts hitherto have concerned sites where there are upstanding remains of stone buildings, or reasonably displayable mosaics. The Jorvik Viking Centre has been built as one possible answer to the problem of preserving some of the less durable remains of the past in a context where they make some sense. The archaeology of cities is often extremely complex, the excavation sites frequently very deep, and the constraints imposed by the modern built environment usually almost overwhelming. The York Archaeological Trust is an educational charity, with as its prime charitable objective the education of the public in archaeology, so the Coppergate proposals fall squarely within its remit, although in practice most of its work had hitherto been rescue excavation in and around York.
