(TR 14905767. Sited to the Marlowe Theatre from OS 1:1250, 1974) Belgic, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Saxon-Norman and medieval finds were discovered on the site of the Marlowe Theatre before redevelopment in 1982. The Belgic occupation consisted of three intercutting ring ditches of a hut circle 10m in diameter which had been re-positioned twice during its uselife. A Belgic cremation was found and Potin coins and Belgic pottery recovered. The Roman occupation consisted of a sealing layer of c.70A.D. overlain by a flavian timber building. Succeeding this phase was a Roman street and timber buildings c.100A.D. Parts of one of these timber structures was later incorporated into a winged-corridor building (see TR 15 NW/292). Overlying the latest Roman levels was a layer of dark earth which varied from c.10cm to 20cm in depth. Two Anglo-Saxon Grubenhauser had been cut into the edge of the Roman street in the sixth century. A C5th visigothic Tremissis was also found in a late Roman building. The Tremissis fragment and a fragment of gold sheet presumably belonged to a goldsmith's 'hoard'. A large late Saxon pit was discovered which contained black and grey North French wares along with earlier possibly Merovingion vessels datable to the seventh century. Saxo-Norman rubbish pits were also excavated along with two timber buildings, one dated to c.1275/1400 and another c.1450/1475. (1-3) Additional bibliography. (4-10)

<1> Canterbury Arch Trust Ann Rep 1982-83 9-13 (P Blockley) (OS Card Reference). SKE38536.

<2> The Arch of Canterbury: An Assessment 1985 101-2 131-2 173 (G Andrews) (OS Card Reference). SKE50053.

<3> Arch Cant 98 1982 225-228 (P Blockley) (OS Card Reference). SKE36312.

<4> Brit 14 1983 334 (S Frere) (OS Card Reference). SKE38312.