A HAUL of Viking treasure has been uncovered in York.

Conservators from the York Archaeological Trust (YAT) are completing work on a number of items found during excavations at the relaunched Waterstone's bookshop in High Ousegate.

The workers uncovered leather shoes, combs, cooking pots and scraps of garments at the site, in pristine condition because of water-logged conditions under the building.

The evidence suggests that craftsmen once lived and worked at the site of the refurbished shop.

YAT deputy director Richard Hall said: "We are still in the process of discovering just how significant these new finds are.

"But we hope to be able to illustrate in even greater detail that Coppergate was the industrial centre of craft and commerce in the Viking age.

"We are slowly adding pieces to the jigsaw of life in Coppergate during this period and every piece has great significance."

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, March 05, 2003