THE streets of York may not be paved with gold, but they do conceal some priceless treasures. That was most famously confirmed when a dig at Coppergate yielded a perfectly preserved Viking settlement. The result: 12 million visitors and counting at the Jorvik Viking Centre.

So York Archaeological Trust's request to take a look underground if Coppergate Riverside gets the go-ahead should be granted.

Trust members say the dig could uncover a Viking or Roman port. Any findings could be displayed as part of the development, making the same connection between commerce and conservation that has worked so well at Coppergate I.