| Abstract: |
Full excavation Archaeological investigation works were carried out at the site of the former St Mary Bredin School, Rhodaus Town (A28), Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RH (centred on NGR 614850 157315) comprising a watching brief of demolition groundworks and full excavation, conducted between 27/01/2020 and 20/11/2020. The works were commissioned on behalf of Canbury Holdings Ltd in response to a planning application (CA//17/02456, granted approval following appeal APP/J2110/W18/3209455 dated 06/01/2020) for the demolition of the existing mid to late-nineteenth century school building and the construction of a new student accommodation building.
The proposed development area is located immediately outside the Roman and medieval city wall (Historic England List Entry no 1003554), within the Canterbury Area of Archaeological Importance. The development footprint lies within the bounds of a known extra-mural Roman cemetery (HER ref MKE 93019) and encapsulates the remnants of an historic earthen mound (HER ref TR 15 NW 225). Various explanation of the mound includes a Roman funerary mound or part of an extra-mural rampart associated with a Norman motte and bailey castle centred on the Dane John Mound (Historic England List Entry no 1003780). A historic environment assessment (MOLA 2017) and archaeological evaluation (CAT 2016), both commissioned in support of the planning application, indicated a high potential for extant archaeology of Norman, Saxon, Roman and perhaps some prehistoric remains, surviving within the proposed development area
The investigation encapsulated an area of 1466m2 and was carried out in accordance with a written scheme of investigation submitted and approved by Canterbury City Council (CAT 2017a) and revealed significant archaeological evidence spanning the prehistoric, Roman, Mid to Late Anglo-Saxon, Early Medieval, Late Medieval and Post-Medieval periods.
The undisturbed surface of geological Head deposits survived between 15.88m OD and 16.84m OD. Prehistoric activity was indicated by assemblages of Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic and Late Neolithic to Bronze Age worked flint and Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age and Middle to Late Iron Age pottery recovered as residual material and are comparable to assemblages recovered from adjacent investigations conducted at Augustine House (CAT 2010), Petros Court (CAT 2015b), Palamon Court (CAT 2017b) and 5-5a Rhodaus Town (CAT 2021).
Remnants of a field system, pits, potential post- and stake hole structures/fences, a metalled trackway, and quarry pits reflected a mix of agricultural and industrial land use during the Early to Mid Roman periods. No evidence that the historic mound had been raised during the Roman period to form a funerary mound was identified, and with exception of a single ‘token’ cremation burial, there was no evidence that the ground lay within the extents of the known Roman cemetery.
A soil horizon, potentially formed during the Late Roman period, was truncated by pits and a sunken feature during occupation dating to the Mid to Late Anglo-Saxon period. A hearth constructed above the sunken feature potentially related to iron smithing, dated to the Late Anglo-Saxon to Early Medieval period, and was associated with a potential post-built structure and refuse pits containing domestic waste mixed with iron smithing debris.
A soil horizon formed above this activity was scoured by cultivation furrows. The cultivation furrows were all unidirectional, aligned northeast to southwest, indicating the use of a drawn plough. Refuse pits containing mainly domestic waste but also some iron smithing debris, were cut into this soil horizon. The pits were sealed by a further soil horizon, which was itself cut by a northeast to southwest aligned boundary ditch. |
