Archaeologists from the Malton-based MAP Consultancy company and developers Sewell are to be congratulated for the time and trouble they took to provide public access to the site of the new St Oswald's School.

Your excellent photograph, right, ('Pupils get their hands on history' - January 29) said it all; that experience of handling Roman

pottery not seen for more than 1,000 years will give them a unique appreciation of the past beneath the ground and their new school above.

Sadly, development in York, particularly in the city centre, have meant public access to archaeological discoveries has been very limited.

However, the recently-revised Development Brief for Hungate promises "large scale open area research excavation" and "public involvement in all aspects of the (archaeology) project", including "schools, colleges and universities".

A generation ago the Coppergate excavation enriched the cultural and economic life of York, raising its profile at home and abroad through the Jorvik Viking Centre.

If and when Hungate is developed, let's hope York will take full advantage of this unique chance to explore our past, as "a city making history".

Meanwhile, York schools looking for opportunities for their pupils to "get their hands on history" should take advantage of the exciting facilities already available, particularly at the ARC and Yorkshire Museum.

Armed with their new handling boxes, the newly-appointed staff at the museum are keen to help pupils and teachers unlock the riches of their collection and make the city's history come to life.

Coun Martin Bartlett,

Scarcroft Road,

York.

Updated: 10:16 Saturday, February 12, 2005