Monument record TR 34 SW 659 - Medieval pits and ditches, High Street, Dover
Summary
Location
Grid reference | Centred TR 3138 4195 (13m by 33m) (10 map features) |
---|---|
Map sheet | TR34SW |
County | KENT |
District | DOVER, KENT |
Civil Parish | DOVER, DOVER, KENT |
Map
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
A number of pits and a ditch of Medieval date were uncovered during evaluation trenching prior to building of new medical practice. These pits probably indicate the use of the High Street frontage during the Medieval period. It is likely that more Medieval features exist beneath the post medieval cellaring which was apparent at the site.
At least 8 pits were identified in trench 1 these were located on either side of a post medieval cellar which occupied a large proportion of the middle of the trench. Five pits were encountered in the southern end of the trench the latest pit was sub-circular in shape with almost vertical sides and an irregular flat base measuring 1.3m in diameter and 0.58m deep. Finds of animal bone, burnt flint, residual Bronze Age pottery and Medieval pottery of a 13th – 14th century date. Two earlier pits were cut by this first example, these were only partially seen in section though were probably of a similar size and shape to the one above discussed. Again residual sherds of pottery were located within its fill, this time of a Late Iron Age or Early Roman date. Alongside the residual pottery two vessel rims were recovered from the upper fill and represent jars of a 13th-14th century date and were probably produced at the Tyler Hill Kilns north of Canterbury. A further pit was identified in the centre of the trench, this was 1m square and filled with a mid-grey silty clay, the feature was not fully excavated but two sheep mandibles and Medieval pottery were recovered from within it during cleaning. Three further pits were identified at the northern end of the trench; these were not excavated but appeared to be a similar size and nature to those identified at the southern end of the trench. Alongside the pits two ditches were recorded in trench 2, the first was located at the southern end of the trench, It measured 0.4m wide and 0.08m deep running parallel to the High Street. The ditch was filled with a mid brown silty clay containing animal bone including domestic fowl and pottery dating to the 13th-14th century. The second was located at the northern end of the trench, it was 3.7m wide and was augered to a depth of 0.5m. It was aligned east-west which is notably different from that of the High Street which is a road of Roman origin. It has been interpreted as a drainage or boundary ditch. Though no dateable finds were recovered from within its fill it is the earliest stratagraphic feature located on the site. (1)
<1> Wessex Archaeology, 1999, Former Market Traders Site, High St, Dover: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE7978.
Sources/Archives (1)
- <1> SKE7978 Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 1999. Former Market Traders Site, High St, Dover: Archaeological Evaluation Report.
Finds (3)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- Intrusive Event: Evaluation on Former Market Traders Site, High St, Dover 1999. Trench 1 (Ref: 46488) (EKE16000)
- Intrusive Event: Evaluation on Former Market Traders Site, High St, Dover 1999. Trench 2 (Ref: 46488) (EKE16001)
- Event Boundary: Evaluation on Former Market Traders Site, High Street, Dover 1999 (Ref: 46488) (EKE5848)
Record last edited
Nov 17 2022 2:39PM