1040445. Cite this using datacite

Title:

An Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief on Geotechnical Investigations at 117-121 Bishopsgate, London EC2

Series:

Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd (London) unpublished report series

Downloads:

preconst1-188957_1.pdf (5 MB) :

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Licence Type:

ADS Terms of Use and Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5284/1040445

Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract:

The excavation of trial trenches and monitoring of geotechnical test pitting revealed that post-medieval activity had heavily truncated earlier deposits, well into Pleistocene gravel towards the north of the site, whilst natural brickearth survived over the gravel in less-truncated areas to the south and east. The earliest in situ archaeological deposits dated to the Roman period and were associated with waste deposition either in a large cut feature or on a former land surface. There was also a possibility that the burnt surface, on which waste deposits were deposited, had been used for funerary purposes. Other possible Roman deposits were more difficult to define. Although some residual medieval artefactual material was recovered from post-medieval contexts, in situ medieval deposits were virtually absent from the site, having been extensively truncated by later activity, though a possible intact medieval layer was extant at the southern edge of the site below a post-medieval building foundation. A significant phase of development on the site came during the 17th to 18th century, when a number of sub-basement structures were built on the site at about the same time as a significant development phase that saw the erection earlier buildings that covered the same broad footprint as current site structures. The sub-basement structures included brick vaults and a brick chute, though the functions of these features has not yet been fully ascertained. There was further activity in the later 18th and early 19th centuries including modifications to sub-basement features, demolition of earlier structures and rubble deposition and ground-raising. Activity associated with structural redevelopment on the site in the late 1820s was also identified during the course of the investigations, as were further phases of demolition, dumping and ground raising, culminating in the construction of modern basement floor surfaces.

Author:

Peter Boyer

Publisher:

Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited

Other Person/Org:

Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Please note: this record has been validated by-proxy by Historic England.

Year of Publication:

2014

Locations:

Parish:	CITY OF LONDON
District:	City of London
Site:	117-121 Bishopsgate
County:	Greater London
Country:	England

Grid Reference: 533216, 181520 (Easting, Northing)

Subjects / Periods:

ROMAN (Historic England Periods)
POST MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)
MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)
	FLOOR (Monument Type England)
	ANIMAL REMAINS (Object England)
	TILE (Object England)
	AUGER SURVEY (Event)
	CLAY PIPE (SMOKING) (Object England)
	CHUTE (Monus)
	BRICK FLOOR (Monus)
	WALL (Monument Type England)
	GLASS (Find)
	SHERD (Object England)
	VAULTED STRUCTURE (Monus)
	TRIAL TRENCH (Event)
	BRICK (Object England)
	TEST PIT (Event)

Identifiers:

OASIS Id:	preconst1-188957
OBIB:	PCA REPORT NO: R11874

Note:

A4 spiral bound with blue cover client report

Source:

OASIS (OASIS)

Relations:

Created Date:

01 Feb 2018