St James' by the Park, Shirley, Southampton. Archaeological Evaluation (SOU1726) (OASIS ID: wessexar1-300669)
Wessex Archaeology, 2018. https://doi.org/10.5284/1047194. How to cite using this DOI
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This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Jennifer
Whitby
Archives Technician
Wessex Archaeology
Portway House
Old Sarum Park
Salisbury
SP4 6EB
UK
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 3045
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1047194
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by HPS on behalf of the Diocese of Winchester to carry out an archaeological single test pit evaluation at St James' by the Park, Shirley, Southampton, SO15 5LZ, centred on NGR 440290 114291.
The archaeological test pit evaluation was designed to inform the proposals for an extension to the current church building to provide additional teaching and office space by identifying the uppermost depth at which burials were present. The test pit measured 2m by 2m and was positioned to the south of the church building targeted on two potential graves which were highlighted by a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey carried out in 2016 and cross referenced to a Victorian plan of the cemetery.
Revealed within the test pit at a depth of c.30m below ground level (28.5m aOD) were the clear outlines of the two graves. Upon excavation of the larger northern grave it was shown that remains of coffin furniture were encountered at a depth of 0.90m below ground level (27.9m aOD). Excavation ceased at this point having identified the depth at which the burial was present. Excavation of the smaller southern grave ceased at a depth of 27.7m aOD and no evidence of coffin furniture or skeletal material was encountered at a depth greater than the northern grave.
The results of the archaeological test pit evaluation can provide valuable information relating to the level at which remains including multiple burials may be encountered and this can be used to aid in proposals for designing the proposed development.
