This week librarian, Helen Skilbeck, takes a closer look at one of the printed and online resources available to Leeds library users.

The Yorkshire Archaeological Society (YAS) began in 1863 – their aim was “the examination, preservation and illustration of the History, Architecture, Antiquities, Manners, Customs, Arts and Traditions of the county of York…”. To achieve this the Society collects books and archive material as well as publishing an annual Yorkshire Archaeological Journal.

The journal was first published in 1870 and continues to this day. Over 2000 articles have been published in this peer-reviewed journal and it continues to showcase original research.

Leeds Libraries have a full run of printed editions of this journal from 1870 (minus 1970 for some reason) up until 2017 and from then on we have online only access to the journal via Taylor and Francis Online.

The YAS have digitised 1870 – 2010 (Volumes 1 – 82) and made these freely available on the Internet Archive. Later volumes, from 2010 onwards, are available online but these can only be accessed within Leeds Libraries/Community Hubs through the Online Resources page.

The journal itself covers the whole of Yorkshire so you can find articles on varied topics including neolithic settlements in Hayton in East Yorkshire, excavations at Marne Barracks in Catterick, and the port of Whitby during Queen Anne’s war 1702-1713. A handy search bar at the top of the page means you can easily see what research has been carried out on a particular place or topic.

As well as original research, the journal also has numerous book reviews covering the latest publications in the archaeological field. The most recent edition (Vol 94, 2022) reviews Life and Death and Rubbish Disposal in Roman Norton, North Yorkshire: Excavations at Brooklyn House 2015-16 by Phillips and Wilson as well as John Smeaton and the Calder Navigation, with the Transcription of John Smeaton’s Journal 1760-1763 Detailing the Day-to-Day Work on the Navigation by Taylor and Levon.

Articles can be read online or downloaded as pdf files or there is the option to listen to each article using ReadSpeaker webReader. This you will find at the top of the article, simply press play and the page will be read aloud to you. You can also download the full issue of the journal – as multiple pdf files rather than one huge file.

If you have an interest in archaeology or the history of Yorkshire, this journal will fit the bill perfectly.

Please visit a Leeds library/community hub to access this resource online. Printed copies pre 2017 are available to read in Leeds Central Library.