32-38 Buttermarket, Ipswich - IAS3201
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, 2015. https://doi.org/10.5284/1034346. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service
Bury Resource Centre
Hollow Road
Bury St Edmunds
IP32 7AY
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 1912
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1034346
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
Circumstances of excavation
The site was excavated prior to the Ipswich Central Area Shopping Scheme. This development, by Legal and General Assurance Society Ltd, included a large area west of St Stephen’s lane (IAS3104) and this site, previously occupied by the ABC cinema, fronting the Buttermarket and east of the lane.
Site constraints
A wide strip was left unexcavated along the west side of the site to ensure that no structural damage was caused to the adjacent Ancient House.
Archaeological deposits had been destroyed along the Buttermarket frontage by a cinema basement. There was also some truncation caused by the cinema auditorium floor, which sloped southwards, but this was limited as the natural slope of the site was 1:40 from north to south.
Site summary
Four inhumation graves belonging to the Early Middle Saxon period survived the extensive truncation by later features. Several structures were identified from the Middle saxon period including a posthole structure and a well with further buildings identified as Middle-Late Saxon in date.
Medieval and later features include numerous pits and several wells.
Further information can be found in the Site Summary which can be accessed by selecting the 'Reports' tab on the 'Downloads' page.
