Data from Archaeological Works at St. Sidwell's Point Leisure Centre and Exeter Bus Station, Exeter, 2018-2019
Cotswold Archaeology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5284/1116182. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Cotswold Archaeology unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5502
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1116182
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises images, reports, GIS files and a database from the archaeological works carried out by Cotswold Archaeology at the St. Sidwell’s Point Leisure Centre and the Exeter Bus Station, Exeter, Devon during September 2019.
In 2018 and 2019 Cotswold Archaeology carried out a programme of archaeological works at St Sidwell's Point, Exeter Bus Station, Exeter. These works comprised a watching brief, trial trench evaluation and excavation.
The investigations identified two parallel north-west/south-east orientated ditches of substantial size and depth, one with a distinct Punic profile, one V-shaped. The fills of both ditches contained cultural material of the mid to later 1st century AD onwards, and there was evidence that the south-western ditch had been backfilled with rampart material from a bank on its south-western side. This appears to represent an additional 1st century fortification located to the north-east of the Fortress; there are similarities with other fortifications which surround central Exeter, although dating could not be refined to the military or early civilian period. This newly recognised fortification went out of use in the 2nd century AD, and the area was subsequently re-used in the 3rd to 4th century, although the nature of the re-occupation is unclear.
The fieldwork was undertaken at the request of Randall Simmonds, acting on behalf of Exeter City Council, in response to a condition on the planning permission for the construction of a leisure complex on part of the Exeter Bus and Coach Station site, granted by Exeter City Council.
