Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The only feature found in trench I was a large circular Medieval pit. It was not fully excavated and the only finds were two small unglazed sherds, probably of 12th-13th century date. In trench II two pits were excavated, one was 16th-17th century in date. Finds included samian and Roman tile. In trench III three pits were recorded, all of Medieval date.

Monument Types

• OCCUPATION SITE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 1001 AD? to 1300 AD?)

Full description

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In the summer of 1952 the Canterbury Excavation Committee dug a c.33m by c. 4m trench, oriented EW in the SE corner of the Marlowe Avenue Car Park. The trench was mechanically excavated and was 1.2m deep.

Four 3m squares divided by baulks 6m wide were excavated in the eastern part of the area, but with disappointing results. The natural subsoil lay only 1.37m from the surface and the sole features were pits. Each square was given a trench number between I-V. Trench V lay at the west end of the area, beyond an ARP shelter which was not removed, was more interesting; two or three of the pits found there may have been connected with a Saxon hut.
The only feature found in trench I was a large circular Medieval pit. It was not fully excavated and the only finds were two small unglazed sherds, probably of 12th-13th century date. The natural gravel outcropped in this area, becoming mixed with loam and capped by it towards the west of the trench.
In trench II two pits were excavated, one was Roman whilst the other was 16th-17th century in date. Finds included samian and Roman tile. In trench III three pits were recorded, all of Medieval date.
The only feature found in trench IV was a segment of a black-filled pit, this contained Medieval pottery within its fill. Three pits were also found in trench V, two of which contained finds indicating a connection with a Saxon house. The medieval pottery recovered from the pits spanned a time scale between the late 11th to 13th centuries

Andrews, G., 1985, The Archaeology of Canterbury: An Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE30429.

Frere, S., Bennett, P., Rady, J., Stow, S., 1987, Excavations Intra- and Extra-mural Sites 1949-55 and 1980-84 (Monograph). SKE29800.

Sources and further reading