Leach, P. J. (1998). Tangier, Taunton. An Assessment of the archaeological potential of land at Tangier, Castle Street, Taunton, Somerset. Birmingham: Birmingham Archaeology.

Title:

Tangier, Taunton. An Assessment of the archaeological potential of land at Tangier, Castle Street, Taunton, Somerset

Number of Pages:

Biblio Note

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Publication Type:

Report

Abstract:

Desk-based assessment of a proposed development site identified that it lay a few hundred metres west of the castle within Taunton, although it had been separated historically from that core of settlement by the confluence of two watercourses. In early prehistoric times, the area would probably have been low-lying, marshy and subject to flooding. Discoveries near the proposal site in the 19th century had included the remains of reindeer and woolly rhinoceros, along with preserved trees and other vegetation. Scattered finds of early prehistoric artefacts had been recorded in the Taunton area, whilst traces of Iron Age and Romano-British settlement had been revealed during excavations within Taunton and its suburbs. The foundations of the modern town had been laid with the establishment of a minster church at the centre of a royal estate in the 8th century. The town centre still conformed closely to its medieval predecessor, whose topography and arrangement seemed to have dated primarily from the 12th century. It was concluded that the potential for the survival of significant archaeological remains at the proposal site was unknown, although important early prehistoric deposits could have been present at some depth. Existing modern uses of the site had obscured original ground levels, and could have disturbed any earlier remains. It was recommended that any available geotechnical ground survey data should be assessed for its potential for information on the stratigraphic history of the site. Subject to the recognition of archaeological data arising from such an assessment, it was noted that a further stage of field assessment by trial trenching could be required. [AIP]

Author:

P J Leach

Publisher:

Birmingham Archaeology

Year of Publication:

1998

Locations:

Location - Auto Detected:	Tangier Castle Street
Location - Auto Detected:	Taunton

Subjects / Periods:

19th Century (Auto Detected Temporal)
EARLY PREHISTORIC (Historic England Periods)
IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)
Medieval (Auto Detected Temporal)
8th Century (Auto Detected Temporal)
12th Century (Auto Detected Temporal)

Note:

Date Of Issue From: 1998 Date Of Coverage From: 01 Date Of Coverage To: 01 Editorial Expansion: Site name: TANGIER, CASTLE STREET, TAUNTON
Study area: 3ha
Investigation type: Desk-based
District: Taunton Deane
Monument:
Ngr: ST22102460
Parish:
Postcode: TA1 4AT

Source:

BIAB (Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))

Created Date:

19 Jan 2009