Title: |
An Archaeological Excavation at Quay Street/Lower Byrom Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester |
Biblio Note |
Please note that this is a bibliographic record only, as originally entered into the BIAB database.
The ADS have no files for download, and unfortunately cannot advise further on where to access hard copy or digital versions.
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Publication Type: |
Report
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Abstract: |
Excavation and recording was undertaken across an area comprising c.30% of the development site. The excavation area was located within a zone previously identified as being of potential archaeological interest, following an earlier archaeological evaluation. The broad aim of the work was to investigate features of possible Roman date and deep stratigraphy close to the Quay Street frontage. The evaluation had identified a possible Roman quarry pit in the northern part of the site. The excavation established that this feature was part of an extensive late post-medieval pit, which may have been dug to extract the sandstone bedrock for construction purposes. The feature had evidently held water for a period of time before being backfilled with sand and gravel - possibly extracted from alluvial deposits of this nature recorded in the southern part of the site. Artefacts of late 18th-19th century date were recovered from the uppermost deposit within the pit, suggesting a slightly earlier date for the putative quarrying activity. Residual evidence of earlier human activity in the vicinity was recovered from the post-medieval pit, in the form of a Neolithic flint blade and a fragment of Roman pottery. The quarry pit had been partly re-excavated during the late 18th -19th century, perhaps for the extraction of the sand and gravel used to backfill the original feature. Silts within the feature suggested that it had again been waterlogged, these deposits in fact being a part of the deep stratigraphy identified close to the Quay Street frontage in the evaluation. Backfilling of this feature probably occurred immediately prior to the construction of terraced housing shown on late 18th century maps. Deposits relating to the demolition of 18th-19th century housing, and subsequent buildings, were recorded in all parts of the excavation area, overlain by the make-up and tarmac of the existing car park surface. With the exception of a sherd of Roman pottery, found residually in context, no evidence of Roman activity was encountered during the fieldwork. Therefore, it could be broadly concluded that civilian settlement associated with the Roman fort did not apparently extend as far as this part of Quay Street. The evidence of extensive quarrying activity of probable 18th century date was of some interest. The post-medieval pottery assemblage from the site had some archaeological value, likewise palaeoenvironmental evidence from the quarry pit. [Au(abr)] |
Author: |
Jennifer Proctor
Robin R Taylor-Wilson
A Telford
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Publisher: |
Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited
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Year of Publication: |
2002
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Locations: |
Location - Auto Detected: |
Quay Street |
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Subjects / Periods: |
Postmedieval (Auto Detected Temporal) |
18th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
Late 18th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
Late 18th 19th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
Late Postmedieval (Auto Detected Temporal) |
18th19th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
Late 18th19th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
ROMAN
(Historic England Periods)
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Neolithic (Auto Detected Temporal) |
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Note: |
Date Of Issue From:
2002
Date Of Coverage From:
01
Date Of Coverage To:
01
Editorial Expansion:
Site name: QUAY STREET/LOWER BYROM STREET, MANCHESTER Study area: 0.2ha Investigation type: Post-determination/Research District: Manchester Monument: Ngr: SJ83259801 Parish: Postcode: M3 4AN
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Source: |
BIAB
(Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))
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Created Date: |
19 Jan 2009 |