Reports from the Environmental Archaeology Unit, York 2000/16, 5pp. Evaluation of vertebrate remains from The Cockpit, Richmond Castle, Richmond, North Yorkshire (site code: CRC00) by Keith Dobney and Deborah Jaques Summary Excavations prior to the development of The Cockpit (a walled enclosure), at Richmond Castle, Richmond, produced 2 sediment samples and a very small assemblage of bone. This material was submitted to the EAU for evaluation of its bioarchaeological potential. A large and unusual assemblage of bones, most of which were identified as fish remains, were recovered from Sample 32501 (Context 325AA). The deposit is believed to be a garden soil associated with the establishment of a vinery. The use of bone meal, animal carcasses and waste as essential fertiliser for vines is well known, and it could be argued that this is exactly what the assemblage from this sample represents. The small hand-collected assemblage is of little interpretative value and appears to represent domestic waste. Variable preservation also suggests the presence of some reworked material. KEYWORDS: THE COCKPIT; RICHMOND CASTLE; RICHMOND; NORTH YORKSHIRE; POST- MEDIEVAL; ANIMAL BONE; FISH Authors’ address: Prepared for: Palaeoecology Research Services Northern Archaeological Associates Environmental Archaeology Unit 15 Redwell Court Department of Biology Harmire Road P. O. Box 373 Barnard Castle University of York Co. Durham York YO10 5YW DL12 8BN Telephone: (01904) 433846/434475/434487 Fax: (01904) 433850 21 March 2000