During excavations undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, ahead of the rebuilding of the Townwall Street filling Station, Dover, a complex series of stratified archaeological deposits were revealed representing activity at the site between the early Medieval period and later post medieval periods. Period 1; 1175-1300 is the first time intensive colonisation of the site began (before had been only superficial activity within the area; Period 0).

In a shallow circular pit adjacent to the south west wall of building 7, articulated human foetal/new born remains were recovered. The fill of the grave contained numerous blocks of chalk rubble and the cramped skeleton was laying at an angle of c. 60 degrees. Apart from the small bones of the sternum and the hands the skeleton was complete. The bones were solid and well preserved. The morphology of the pelvis suggests that the skeleton is possibly male. The case of death could not be ascertained but metric examination indicated that the remains are slightly smaller than an average full term foetus and so it is possible that the remains represent a premature still birth. (1)

<1> Keith Parfitt, Barry Corke and John Cotter, 2006, Townwall Street, Dover: Excavations 1996 (Monograph). SKE31840.