11th to 13th century ditch, pits and casting pit, accompnied by a large assemblage of 11th to 13th century pottery, found during excavation prior to construction of the Student Union Building in 1983. (3)

A very large ditch aligned roughly east-west was found south of the through-passage of the Cellarer's Range, and contained pottery dating from AD 1050-1150. Two rubbish pits were found in the same area, one of which contained a sherd of pottery dated to AD 1100-1125. In the south-eastern corner of the site, a large area of burnt orange clay was partially excavated and identfied as a casting pit containing the following:

Pieces of fired clay moulds with traces of copper alloy on their surfaces. Initially thought to be for casting bells, although later analysis suggested that the fragments were not curved enough for making bells and the alternative suggestion of monumental bronze plaques as the product was made. (3)

"Vitreous" slag. "The elements detected were copper with major amounts of tin and traces of lead. This slag could have formed in a hearth or furnace where metal was being melted". (3)

The majority of the medieval pottery from the CCCU campus is of 11th to 13th century, and this assemblage is one of two large ones that make up that group (the other is Site 8, the Paramedical Centre, EKE13781). These are important because they show a link between the Anglo-Saxon occupation and the 14th century outer precinct of St Augustine's Abbey.

From the report: "The dominant fabric here is Canterbury Early Medieval Sandy Ware followed by local/East Kent Shelly wares of similar date, and smaller amounts of Canterbury shell-dusted ware, as well as much smaller numbers of foreign imports from North France/Flanders. Vessel forms are predominantly cooking pots with smaller numbers of bowls and spouted pitchers." (2)

<1> Hicks, Martin, 1996, Archaeological Excavations at Canterbury Christ Church College. Assessment Report on Excavations conducted between 1983-1995 (Unpublished document). SKE31570.

<2> Hicks, Martin and Houliston, Mark, 1999, Archaeological Excavations at Canterbury Christ Church College. Assessment report on excavations conducted between 1983-1996 (Unpublished document). SKE31574.

<3> Archaeologia Cantiana, 1986, Archaeologia Cantiana: Rescue Exacavtions in the Outer Court of St. Augustine's Abbey, 1983-84. Vol. 103 (Article in serial). SKE32069.