It's not just the professional archaeologists that make exciting discoveries, as a member of York's Community Archaeology team discovered recently at the city's Hungate excavation.

Richard Daniel (50), who is a railway controller from the Wigginton Road area of York, discovered a rare 14th Century gold coin whilst excavating a medieval rubbish pit on the site. 

Richard is a team member of the Greater York Community Archaeology Project on York Archaeological Trust's Hungate dig.  The project enables people within the York community to explore the archaeology and history of where they live.  It's open to everyone, and it's free.

Although the medieval rubbish pit - which has now been finished - had revealed such objects as animal bones, red brick tile, charcoal, a few copper coins and fragments of green glazed pottery, this was all eclipsed by Richard's exciting discovery.

He says, 'I was trowelling in the centre of the community team in soft gritty earth when something the size of a modern five pence piece appeared in shiny gold.   When I saw how excited everyone around Hungate was, and I was told this is the only gold ever found on site in three years, it was clear how lucky I had been.

'I was a spectator at the Coppergate dig where the JORVIK Viking Centre now stands and never thought I would be able to actually get hands on experience.  I've been volunteering through the Greater York Archaeology Project for 18 months - it's great to learn about archaeology techniques and see others across a broad spectrum of ages able to do the same.  What has been achieved by the whole team is testament to their dedication in sifting through so much history in three years."

Jon Kenny, community archaeologist at York Archaeological Trust, was working with Richard when he made his discovery.  He said, "Archaeologists don't often find gold objects so I was as excited as Richard.  It is amazing to see how something made of gold remains so bright and untarnished despite being in the ground for hundreds of years.

'Community Archaeology is a real opportunity for people to get involved with the heritage all around them.  There is such excitement in making discoveries by researching the archaeology on your doorstep with a local history or archaeology group or by volunteering at a local excavation."

Community Archaeology has supported over 30 local history and archaeology groups in the greater York area with advice and practical assistance.  The Project also works with young people doing community service, with homeless people at the ArcLight centre in York and has given workshops at primary schools across the city helping over 1,000 children to understand the past in the landscape all around them.  All of this has been done with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

In 2010 the Greater York Community Archaeology Project will also be offering the opportunity for people looking for work to build their confidence by getting involved with archaeological project work around the city.