Archaeologists are to carry out exploratory digs on the site of York's proposed £60 million extension to the Coppergate Centre.

But experts say they do not expect to uncover sensational Viking finds like the ones discovered 20 years ago when the present shopping centre was built, which led to the creation of the Jorvik Viking Centre.

The construction of a prison in the early 19th century and then of the basement for a town hall in the mid-20th century means most of the historic remains on the Castle Car Park site have sadly been destroyed, says John Oxley, archaeologist with City of York Council.

He says that some Viking homes were built on part of the site - although parts near the River Foss were also used to dump rubbish - but most of the evidence was destroyed by the 19th and 20th century developments.

There was also a cutting running across the site from the River Foss to Clifford's Tower.

Because of that, preliminary trial holes already dug across the car park site had so far revealed little of interest, he said.

Mike Stowell, of architects Terry Farrell, who are designing the new shops scheme, said three small areas still remained to be explored and trial holes would be dug there by archaeologists working for the York Archaeological Trust.

The areas are near the corner of the Castle Museum where it adjoins the development site, an area of land in the centre of the car park and land adjacent to the public toilets near Fenwicks store.

An archaeological evaluation of the site was undertaken by the Trust in 1992, and an agreed strategy has been drawn up to ensure minimal disturbance to archaeological remains.

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