| Title: |
Archaeological Evaluation at 11-13 Wensum Street, Norwich, Norfolk |
| Number of Pages: |
95 |
| 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: |
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in advance of proposed commercial development. The site lay in the historic core of the city close to previously identified prehistoric, Saxon and medieval remains. Part of the site was occupied by a building of medieval origin. Two trial trenches were excavated at the site, one by the street frontage and one to the rear. Several pits, post holes, a gravel surface and trampled floors of a building were identified just above the natural geological deposits but were undated. A small number of fragments of middle Saxon Ipswich Ware pottery were recovered from the trench at the street frontage and an occupation layer possibly of this period was identified. This occupation layer sealed the trampled floors of the undated building and perhaps suggested that the structure was also of middle Saxon date. However, the small quantity of middle Saxon material recovered concurred with previous investigations in the vicinity that suggested that this southern bank of the Wensum was peripheral to an area of middle Saxon settlement on the north side of the river. At the street frontage, and above the possible middle Saxon occupation deposits, a sequence of floor and trample layers from a building with at least two rooms was identified. The laying of these floors commenced in the late Saxon period and continued through Saxo-Norman times. They were then apparently terminated by the excavation of cess and possible refuse pits, this pit digging beginning in the Saxo-Norman period and continuing through to the medieval. Water logging resulted in the excellent preservation of organic remains in some of the pits, including the timber lining of one of the cess pits. A rubble-filled pit, perhaps a foundation, was later excavated, possibly during the creation of a cellar. Adjacent undercrofts suggested that this perhaps occurred in the 15th century. This late medieval cellar had largely been removed in the 20th century for the construction of a new building on site. Stanchion pits for this building were identified and extended into the natural deposits. To the rear of the site there was some slight indication of occupation in the Saxo-Norman period. However, medieval remains were more abundant and included evidence for a possible timber building, pits, perhaps for refuse disposal, and landscaping through the dumping of earth. A maintained boundary gully was also identified, though this boundary went out of use when a building, consisting of a flint cobble and mortar wall, was constructed. This appeared to have an internal hearth against the wall, suggesting a probable domestic function, and was surrounded by a gravel yard. A large piece of moulded masonry was recovered from the area and may have related to the building. [Au(abr)] |
| Author: |
Gary Taylor
|
| Publisher: |
Archaeological Project Services
|
| Year of Publication: |
2001
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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EARLY MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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|
| 15th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
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EARLY MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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|
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MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
| Medieval (Auto Detected Temporal) |
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PREHISTORIC
(Historic England Periods)
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|
| 20th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
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EARLY MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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|
|
| Note: |
Date Of Issue From:
2001
Date Of Coverage From:
01
Date Of Coverage To:
01
Editorial Expansion:
Site name: 11-13 WENSUM STREET, NORWICH
Study area:
Investigation type: Evaluation
District: Norwich
Monument: POST HOLE. Early Medieval (410-1066), PIT. Medieval (1066-1540), POST HOLE. Medieval (1066-1540), CESS PIT. Medieval (1066-1540), POST HOLE. Undated, PIT. Early Medieval (410-1066), RUBBISH PIT. Early Medieval (410-1066), [finds]. Post-medieval (1540-1901
Ngr: TG23150896
Parish:
Postcode: NR3 1ES
|
| Source: |
BIAB
(Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))
|
| Created Date: |
19 Jan 2009 |
