Series: Canterbury Archaeological Trust unpublished report series

Archaeological evaluation conducted by Canterbury Archaeological Trust (20 May and 22 May 2019) on land at 13a Monastery Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1NJ. Work followed archaeological desk-based assessment in 2009 and watching brief conducted during geotechnical site investigation works in February 2019. The geotechnical works indicated presence of an archaeological sequence extending to depths of 1.7m and 4.7m bgl, potentially representing refuse pits and clay/gravel extraction. The present evaluation was not able to extend to a sufficient depth to investigate this lower archaeological sequence. Two evaluation trenches (10m by 1.4m) provided a 5% sample of the proposed development area, which is to comprise four residential units with parking. The earliest dated archaeology included a medieval chalk and flint wall and chalk floor in trench 2 at a depth of 0.97m bgl. This was overlain by a deposit containing pottery dated to AD 1200-1400 at a depth of 0.72m bgl. Deposits and features of early/late post-medieval date (AD 1600-1800) were recorded in both trenches. In trench 1 these extended to a depth of up to 2.07m bgl and included thick soil deposits cut by a later foundation trench for a brick wall, potentially demarcating the southern boundary of a formal garden as shown on the first edition ordnance survey map of 1874. In trench 2, two post-medieval refuse pits truncated the earlier medieval features and were overlain by further later soil layers. Both trenches were capped by an existing concrete hardstanding associated with a former office/workshop and builder's yard.

Watching brief on geotechnical site investigation, then evaluation, then watching brief on drainage works etc.

Following desk-based assessment, a watching brief was conducted by CAT on geotechnical site investigation at 32-42 High Street, Purley, Croydon CR8 2AA. This involved a small inspection pit by the site frontage and 7 boreholes (plus 2 starter-pits bottoming on concrete foundations) to the rear of the existing building. Front probably and rear certainly truncated to natural gravelly chalk (sometimes chalky flint gravel) Head deposits by c1980s construction. These deposits assessed as too coarse for significant palaeoenvironmental potential.

Excavation at 5-5a Rhodaus Town, Canterbury conducted between 19/08/2019 and 21/12/2019 in advance of development on behalf of Canbury Holdings. Situated within Canterbury Area of Archaeological Importance and known extents of Roman cemetery. Archaeological data spanning prehistoric, Roman, post-Roman and post-medieval periods was recovered. Residual prehistoric worked and pottery was recovered but no features identified. Early/Mid Roman period features comprised cultivated soil horizon, pits, quarries and field system representing agricultural and industrial land use. Replaced in Late Roman period by inhumation cemetery, defined by boundary ditch and 215 inhumation graves. Bone preservation was poor, but 205 skeletons were recovered comprising adult males, females and children. Burials were predominantly aligned to the cemetery boundary, contained within coffins in extended supine position with head to west. Multiple burials were noted, and a proportion exhibited non-standard burial rites including decapitation Grave goods were rare, including pottery vessels, terracotta figurines, coins, and domestic fowl eggs. Costume items included footwear, shrouds, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and buckles. Related features included horse burials, a funerary shaft, and large shallow activity area. The cemetery dated no earlier than the late-third century AD and continued until the mid-fifth century AD and corresponds with dates from adjacent burials excavated at Augustine House, Petros Court, and Palamon Court. Post-Roman activity was limited to domestic and metalworking refuse pits, miscellaneous features and post-holes, and represent occupation-related activities associated with adjacent Mid-Late Anglo-Saxon settlement. A soil formed above post-Roman features represented agricultural land use which continued uninterrupted until late nineteenth century development.

An archaeological evaluation was conducted by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust on land to the rear of No. 73 High Street Orpington, Kent BR6 0JF (NGR 546518 166635 centred). The works were commissioned by Kent and Sussex Properties in advance of proposed development of the land for the erection of 5 two-storey terraced houses with accommodation in roof space and associated car parking (planning reference DC/13/03607/FULL1). The evaluation comprised two trenches approximately 15m in length both located within the footprint of the Proposed Development Area (PDA). The results identified the natural geology as Taplow Gravel at a height of 52.00m OD approximately 1m below the existing ground surface. The gravel was cut by a 'dry' natural stream gully aligned south-east to north-west. The gully and the south of the site were covered with a deposit of calluvium that was in turn overlaid by a Head sandy clay deposit. The natural geological surface may have been truncated in the late nineteenth century and was further cut by at least three small pits. A thick layer of garden and plough soil sealed the earliest pits and the remainder of the natural. Cutting the soil deposits were a number of late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century pits that contained refuse material with concentrations of fish bone. The area was overlaid by modern leveling deposits. No significant archaeological features were encountered.

Observation of seven soil test pits and three boreholes cut at various points around Fort Burgoyne, north of Dover Castle (NGR 63243 14272, centred) was carried out in March 2016. This allowed some limited observation of the buried archaeology of the fort. In Test pit 6, the north of the stable block the base of a demolished brick wall was located, together with the surfacing of an early fort roadway. Traces of pre-fort clay deposits were noted in Test pits 3, 4 and 6. No artefacts of archaeological interest were recovered during the course of the investigations. No unauthorised damage to the structure of the fort occurred.

Observation of groundworks connected with the formation of the England Coast Path across part of the Western Heights at Dover provided an opportunity to record details of the below-ground archaeology of the nineteenth-century artillery fortress that occupies the summit of ridge. Nothing of special archaeological significance was revealed in any of the excavations and no datable finds were recovered.