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Richard Sermon
INTRODUCTION
Fieldwork carried out by the City Archaeology Unit in 1995 included 10 major sites and over 50 watching briefs. We also continued to maintain and encourage strong links with local schools - a record 18 students taking up work experience placements with us.
The summer exhibition Death of a Princess involved a facial reconstruction of the Birdlip skull and reproductions of the Iron Age mirror. Displays such as a round house were used to set the material in context. Competitions and various hands on activities were also provided.
Gloucester Archaeology's contribution to National Archaeology Day (16th September) proved a great success. Members of staff were on hand in the Wheatstone Hall to discuss and demonstrate various skills, from deciphering Anglo Saxon inscriptions, to making leather shoes. Conservation techniques were explained to a very interested audience, and there was the opportunity to handle a selection of Roman "household" artefacts. It was also an ideal forum to exhibit the material from Olympus Park (see below). The excavation was recreated with full size replica coffin, and the story retold using posters and photographs.
FIELDWORK
With contributions by Sue Byrne, Phil Greatorex and Wayne Laughlan.
Olympus Park, Quedgeley (Site 48/94)
SO 8130 1485
In December 1994, during construction work on the Cobe development site at Olympus Park, large amounts of Roman building material was discovered by Patrick Garrod. Over the next few days, the Gloucester Archaeology team battled through the rain and thick clay to make sense of the badly disturbed remains.
A number of walls, an area with evidence for a hypocaust underfloor heating system and the remains of an opus signinum floor were located. Also excavated were many ditches, rubbish pits, a kiln or hearth, and a stone lined pit, perhaps a cess pit. Slowly, a picture emerged of a Roman settlement site, probably a small villa.
The finds recovered, included masses of brick, tile, stone, tesserae, pottery, and animal bone. Many of the finds were of good quality, suggesting that the buildings were of high status. They also suggested that people had been living and working on the site for several hundred years; with the pottery dating from the 1st to 4th Centuries AD.
Olympus Park, Quedgeley (Site 7/95)
SO 8125 1485
A rescue excavation was carried out following the discovery of a Roman stone coffin burial on the Cobe development site. The coffin was intact and hewn from single block of limestone with the mason's toolmarks still clearly visible. However, the coffin lid had broken into many pieces due to weathering. It contained a single burial, probably female, with the head to the south and feet to the north.
Six jet pins were discovered nestling between the feet. Four of the pins had facetted cube heads, two had elaborately carved and pierced heads (see below). Immediately to the west of the coffin a large Severn Valley ware storage jar and two copper alloy coins were found. One coin was corroded and therefore illegible, the other was a sestertius of Severus Alexander (222-231 AD). These finds were probably buried at the same time as the coffin.
RAF Quedgeley, Site Number 3 (Site 34/95)
SO 8070 1490
An evaluation of the 15 hectare site consisted of a 20% magnetometery survey followed up by trial trenching. While there was some evidence of medieval ridge and furrow on the site, almost all the anomalies revealed by the magnetometery survey turned out to be geological features.
Gloucester Cathedral Precinct (Site 35/95)
SO 8308 1876
A watching brief was maintained during improvements to the cathedral precinct and St Mary's Gate. New drainage trenches cut through the post-reformation cemetery to the south of the cathedral. Five articulated burials and large amount of disarticulated human bone was recovered for later reburial. Also observed was a large block of worked stone, probably a post-reformation memorial.
Blackfriars, 11 Ladybellegate Street (Site 42/95)
SO 8295 1845
A trial excavation was funded by English Heritage to establish the pattern of the 19th century formal gardens and investigate the position and survival of the medieval church. The formal gardens shown on the Board of Health map, 1851, were positively identified through land drainage patterns only. The north wall of the church has been completely robbed of masonry, though a single nave pier base survives intact. The western end of the nave is characterised by closely packed inhumations with no evidence of a covering floor surface, suggesting this too has been removed.
Southern Reinforcement Main (Site 46/95)
SO 8155 1350
Extended watching brief for Severn Trent Water along a 5km stripped corridor through pasture and rough grassland from Whaddon to Quedgeley. Medieval ridge and furrow in the vicinity of Manor farm, Quedgeley, and a single, undated, field boundary 2km to the east. Surface finds consisted of a handful of very abraded late Roman pottery sherds and a single flint core.
Commercial Road (Site 53/95)
SO 8286 1845
A watching brief was maintained during the construction of a new electricity substation. The raft foundation cut into only the post-medieval levels, thus preserving in situ the earlier deposits on the site.
69 Deans Way, Kingsholm (Site 54/95)
SO 8325 1950
Evaluation in advance of future development in the rear garden of the property. The area is covered by a c.1m thick overburden of victorian refuse sealing a 0.40m layer of waterlogged peaty silt with in situ oak tree stumps. This overlies a relatively clean estuarine silt cut by late Roman, right angled, ditches and a single cess pit. The sandy gravels sealed by the silt were tested to a depth of a further 1.2m and were still producing Roman pottery. Excavation had to be suspended due to the presence of pockets of running sand.
Gloucester Cathedral, Lady Chapel (Site 75/95)
SO 8317 1877
A full drawn survey of the medieval floor tiles was carried out in advance of a protective floor covering being laid.
St Magdalen's Chapel, London Road (Site 85/95)
SO 8432 1899
General renovations and re-roofing of the chapel revealed a Roman gravestone re-used as capping to the north wall. The stone has been split along its centre line, is placed with the four line inscription uppermost and reads:
T.LVS(I)VS, NYM(M)IVS, ANN(O)R XX, H.(S.)E.
(TITUS LUSIUS NYMMIUS, AGED 20, HERE HE LIES).
The stone was recorded by taking a plaster cast (accurate drawing proving too difficult due to the proximity of the roof eaves) and this is currently on display in the City Museum.
FINDS (Sue Byrne)
Most evaluations conducted this year produced only small amounts of Post Medieval material. That at Blackfriars also yielded large quantities of worked stone, including cut and polished marble. This was probably the legacy of Joseph Bryan, a stone mason known to have worked at Blackfriars circa 1755. The most outstanding finds of the year were those recovered from a rescue operation at Olympus Park, Quedgeley, and these are described in detail below.
We also received finds, photographic, and archival material collected by the late Bernard and Barbara Rawes, representing twenty or so years of fieldwalking in Gloucester. The finds from GADARG's excavation at St Giles Church, Maisemore, were also deposited with us. Full details are stored in the Unit archive.
Many finds were displayed to the public for the first time. A selection of objects, first excavated in 1978 at St Mary de Lode, are now on display within the church. We hope to add even more finds to the showcase this summer. Roman military objects, the fruit of 25 years excavation in Gloucester City, also went on display at the City Museum. Many splendid items recovered by Patrick Garrod at Coppice Corner in 1983 can now be seen, along with more recently acquired material. A cast of the Roman tombstone discovered at St Mary Magdalen's chapel, London Road, also went on display in the entrance hall of the City Museum.
The Quedgeley Pins
During the final cleaning of the Quedgeley skeleton, six jet pins were found nestling between its feet. Four of them had facetted cube heads - the commonest form for jet pins. Two, however, had elaborately carved and pierced heads, and are much more unusual. All were in remarkably good condition, resting in the thick, wet sediment on the coffin floor.
The pins were arranged in a neat bundle, as if purposely placed there. It is unclear why the pins, presumably used to dress the hair, were placed at the feet rather than the head. It seems that they were meant to be unworn, and may have had a symbolic or religious significance.
Unworn personal objects are frequently found in the graves of young girls and, occasionally, older females. It has been suggested that, when buried with young girls, such jewellery would denote marriageable status, and provide a token dowry in the afterlife (Green in Philpott, 1991, 70). The Quedgeley skeleton, probably female, is definitely an adult. Perhaps these pins simply represent familiar, treasured possessions, or perhaps a gift to the gods, appropriate to her station.
The two more unusual pins have facetted heads, decorated on each face with a diamond bordered by triangles. Within each diamond is a motif of four petals, and within each triangle, a motif of three petals. Holes have been drilled in the centre of each floret, and some penetrate right through. Lindsay Allason-Jones has suggested that these holes may have held some contrasting filling (Allason-Jones, 1996, 41).
Similar pins have been found in York and Germany, although there has been some debate as to their date. One from York is recorded as coming from an Anglo-Scandinavian context, whilst those from Germany are thought to be of Roman date. Luckily, the Quedgeley pins can be securely dated to the Roman period, probably early to mid 3rd Century, as a sestertius of Severus Alexander was found 20cm from (and associated with) the burial.
WATCHING BRIEFS (Anthony P Garrod)
Cheltenham Road Sewer Scheme (Site 26/93)
SO 8550 1945
September 1993 to June 1994
Covering Cheltenham Road, Oxstalls Lane, Oxstalls Drive, Wellsprings Road, Windermere Road, Old Cheltenham Road, Grafton Road, Kenilworth Avenue, Merevale Road and Elmbridge Road. Casual observations made in open trenches along lengths of the above carriage ways. Variable depths from 5 to 2 metres deep.
Geological
A spread of Jurassic sand and gravel overlaying Lias clay, part of the Barnwood gravel terrace levels extending across the Elmbridge and Longlevens area, located between the Horsbere and Wotton Brooks. A possible undefined channel or linear undulation in the Lias clay was identified at the junction of Elmbridge Road and Merevale Road and Cheltenham Road junction with Wellsprings Road. Waterlogged sand, silts and gravel fills exceeded 5 metres deep.
18th-19th Century
Some scant evidence for night manuring was noted in plough soil levels of former farm land, now covered by the above 20th century suburbs. The narrower sunken alignments of the Old Cheltenham Road and Elmbridge Road were recorded.
United Artists TV Cable Trenching (Site 8/95)
1994 to 1995
Observations made in trenching within the shallow archaeological levels of Kingsholm, Wotton, Barton and Tredworth suburbs 40cms deep.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Made ground or loam levels cut by existing service trenches were noted below respective pavement make-ups.
117 Bristol Road, Quedgeley Garage (Site 9/95)
SO 8110 1462
April to March 1994
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension to car showroom, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Alluvial loam overlay, Jurassic sandy gravel deposits.
Negative Archaeological Evidence -
for land adjacent to Olympus Park Roman Villa (Site 48/94).
Coney Hill Hospital (Site 10/95)
SO 8580 1680
June to August 1994
Observations made during excavation of a flood water Balancing Pond, discharging into artificial course of the River Twyver, bounding west side of the hospital grounds, 2.5 metres deep.
Geological
A plough reduced alluvial loam level, containing derivative (Bunter) pebbles and course rolled Jurassic gravel pebbles, overlay Lias Clay on the upper shoulder of Coney Hill.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
149-153 Bristol Road, Auto Express (Site 11/95)
SO 8243 1703
April 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for the above redevelopment, 1.4 metres deep.
Geological
Alluvial loam overlay and thin spreads of Jurassic silty gravel, above Lias Clay natural.
Negative Archaeological Evidence -
for land bounding main Roman road alignment, extending south from Gloucester.
1 Hendingham Close, Tuffley (Site 12/95)
SO 8162 1481
April 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for east side extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
A clayey alluvial loam overlay Lias Clay natural.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
258 Bristol Road, Lidl Development (Site 15/95)
SO 8230 1690
August 1994 to January 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches during redevelopment of former Nicks Timber Yard land, Canada Wharf, 1.2 metres deep.
Geological
Jurassic alluvial clay with occasional pockets of gravel merged with sandy River Terrace deposits containing Bunter pebbles at the western end of the site. Both deposits overlay a Lias Clay base.
Medieval to Post Medieval Levels
A large undated pit 5.6 metres wide, containing a mottled clayey loam fill, lensed with black Ferric Oxide saturations, cut medieval/post medieval plough soil levels to a depth of 1.6 metres.
19th Century Level
A redeposited puddled Lias Clay make-up, extending across the former Timber Yard area, overlay the above levels.
173 Barton Street, Barton (Site 16/95)
SO 8386 1799
April 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for extended rebuild of demolished 19th Century rear kitchen, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Jurassic sandy loam was recorded below Layer Above Natural.
Medieval
An 11th to 13th century potsherd was found in former plough field levels, bounding the Lower Barton Street frontage.
13 Denham Close, Tuffley (Site 17/95)
SO 8219 1427
April 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Spreads and pockets of Jurassic silty gravel, associated with mineralised (Ice Age) horse tooth, was recorded on the upper Lias Clay shoulder of the Tuffley hillock.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
127 Deans Way, Kingsholm (Site 18/95)
SO 8337 1966
September 1994
Observations made in underpinning trenches below subsiding front bay window foundation, 1.7 metres deep.
Geological
A fine silt loam level was recorded beneath Layer Above Natural from 1.4 metres deep.
Roman
An undefined pit feature containing Neronian Flavian potsherds, part of a human skull, an articulated skull and a vertebra column of a butchered horse. Also sheep and cattle bone fragments were recorded to 1.8 metres deep.
2A Denmark Road, Wotton (Site 19/95)
SO 8439 1904
March 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
A Jurassic sand-gravel cap on the Wotton hillock was recorded from 80cms deep.
Roman
A small sherd of Late Roman grey ware was found in the base of former medieval/post medieval plough soil levels. Negative evidence for the Wotton Roman Burial Ground along the east side of Denmark road (Roman Ermin Street).
37 Green Lane, Hucclecote (Site 20/95)
SO 8730 1707
May 1994
Observations made in foundation trenches for south side extension, 1.28 metres deep.
Geological
Alluvial Clay deposits bounding the north side of Wotton Brook, were recorded below garden lawn levels.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
149 Escourt Road, Kingsholm (Site 23/95)
SO 8444 1941
January 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for small front extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Stiff Lias Clay loam merging with Lias Clay was recorded from 30 cms deep.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Chequers and Marlborough Road (Site 24/95)
SO 8440 1724
January to March 1995
Observations made in Severn Trent Water trenches along the above roads, maximum depth 5 metres.
Geological
Deposits of fine Jurassic sand were recorded to 3.70 metres deep above sandy Jurassic gravel levels, exceeding depths below 5 metres.
19th to Early 20th Century
Evidence of extensive 19th to 20th Century sand pits cutting former undated plough soil levels, were recorded beneath the north side carriage way of Chequers road.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
26 Briar Lawn, Abbeydale (Site 25/95)
SO 8527 1495
May 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 1.10 metres deep.
Geological
Lias Clay was recorded beneath former undated plough soil level.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
1- 5 Godwin Close, Stroud Road (Site 26/95)
SO 8343 1710
May 1994
Observations made in new access road, service and foundation trenches, maximum depth 2.80 metres.
Geological
A Jurassic sandy loam deposit overlay Lias Clay at 70cms deep.
19th to 20th Century
Distmantled railway track 1 metre high. Phase 1, Timber rail track sleepers 1 metre apart, were embedded on Lias Clay make-up 30cms thick. Phase 2, A crushed brick make-up 15cms thick, bedded on Lias Clay 20cm thick sealed Phase 1. Phase 3, Modern Lias/carboniferous limestone ballast sealed Phase 2.
286 Cheltenham Road, Elmbridge (Site 27/95)
SO 8620 1993
May 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
A Jurassic alluvial loam level overlay Lias Clay.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
57A Upton Close, Hucclecote (Site 28/95)
SO 8639 1728
May 1995
Observations in foundation trenches for new house infill plot 1.15 metres deep. Within back filled sunken area of extensive early 20th Century gravel pit bounding the above Close, formerly part of Upton Lane alignment.
Geological
Lias Clay containing pockets of Jurassic gravel, was recorded at 2.35 metres, below modern pavement level.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Lobleys Drive, Abbeymead (Site 29/95)
SO 8690 1650
May to December 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches 1.8 metres deep.
Geological
Jurassic sand silt and gravel deposits overlay Lias clay. Estuarine top-soil spread over part of the development area was imported from Worcester. Contains Bunter pebbles and 19th Century wares.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Observations continuing.
Abbots Road, Abbeymead (Site 30/95)
SO 8666 1676
March to December 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches 1.4 metres deep.
Geological
Spreads and pockets of Jurassic sand silt and gravel deposits overlay Lias clay.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Observations continuing.
Lobleys Farm Site
Respective Victorian 8cm brick foundations were recorded in trenching. Other than a contemporary yard surface of reused 6 to 7cm handmade brickwork, no earlier farm occupation was discovered.
24 Stratton Road, Barton (Site 31/95)
SO 8389 1782
May to June 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rebuild of rear kitchen and bathroom extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
A Jurassic fine sand deposit was recorded from 84cms deep.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Undated plough soil levels of former Barton Fields were overlain by 19th to 20th century garden loam.
29 Hucclecote Road, Hucclecote (Site 33/95)
SO 8664 1774
June 1995
Observations made during machining of double garage site, on vacant land to the east of the above property.
Geological
Jurassic sand and gravel was recorded below a truncated Layer Above Natural level, from 40cms deep.
Post-medieval
Levelled terrace or platform associated with former demolished 17th to 18th century stone, thatched cottage site. levelled area is 64cms above the modern sunken Hucclecote Road alignment (Roman Ermin Street).
136 Barton Street, Victoria Inn (Site 36/95)
SO 8380 1810
June 1995
Observations made in foundation trench for new rear side boundary wall flanking Victoria Street, 75cms deep.
Late 18th to 19th Century
Successive east-west cambered metalled surfaces, approximately 5 metres wide, were recorded from 60cms deep to the rear of the above building.
9 Redstart Way Abbeydale (Site 37/95)
SO 8531 1677
June 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for north-end extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Layer Above Natural recorded at 86cms, below developers made ground and modern garden levels.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
for Pre-historic and Roman Settlement (Site 98/75).
Faraday House, Plot 11 Barnett Way (Site 39/95)
SO 8595 1831
June to July 1995
Observations made in foundation and service trenching during construction of the above new building, average 1 metre deep.
Geological
Jurassic Oolitic sand and gravel terrace levels were recorded from 40cms deep. Occasional derivative (Bunter pebbles) were noted in the plough soil truncating Layer Above Natural.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
The plough soil contained a small number of 19th to early 2Oth Century pottery, china ware and clay pipe stem fragments.
3 The Vines, Hucclecote Road (Site 40/95)
SO 8758 1724
July 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 90cms deep.
Geological
Stiff buff sand-silted alluvial loam was recorded from 60cms deep.
Negative Archaeological Evidence -
for land bounding Hucclecote Road (Roman Ermin Street).
44 Park Avenue, Longlevens (Site 41/95)
SO 8552 2049
July 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Alluvial clayey loam overlay Lias Clay.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
56 Dunster Close, Tuffley (Site 43/95)
SO 8206 1437
June 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
A thin deposit of Jurassic gravel overlay, stiff clayey loam, from 70cms deep.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
On rise of Tuffley Hillock.
Olympus Park, Quedgeley (Site 45/95)
SO 8122 1465
August to September 1995
Observations made during machining extension to the main service road, south from the new Cobe factory site, 240 metres long, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Alluvial loam containing derivative (Bunter) pebbles, overlay stiff clayey loam deposits above Jurassic gravel terrace.
Prehistoric
One small beaked flint tool and outer core flake, were found in the base plough soil level.
Roman
A shallow east-west ditch feature 2.30 metres wide, edged with Lias and occasional Oolite stones, containing 1st to 2nd century Roman potsherds, was recorded near the northern end of the new road alignment. The ditch bounds the Roman Villa complex recorded beneath the new Cobe Factory (Site 48/94).
Saxon
An east-west ditch feature 3.4 metres wide was recorded towards the southern end of the new road alignment. The fill containing banded and garden snail shells, is associated with 10th century cooking bowl sherds and numerous butchered bone fragments. Similar sherds which were recovered from a ditch located on the south side of the above Roman Villa complex when the adjacent M5 link road was constructed (Site 28/76 - Garrod & Heighway, 1984, 30-2).
59 Alders Green, Longlevens (Site 47/95)
SO 8460 2038
September 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Jurassic sandy gravel was recorded at 80cms deep.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
A former plough soil level was recorded beneath modern made ground, at 56cms deep.
Church Hall, 191 Painswick Road (Site 48/95)
SO 8515 1605
August to September 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for above building, 1.5 metres deep.
Geological
Former plough soil level overlay Lias clay natural, from 1.2 metres deep.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Made ground capping modern tip levels, totalling 1 metre thick, overlay the site area.
21 Sulgrave Close, Tuffley (Site 49/95)
SO 8212 1424
September 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 80cms deep.
Geological
Lias clay natural was recorded at 50cms deep.
Negative Archaeological Evidence -
for rise of Tuffley hillock.
4 Podsmead Place, Podsmead (Site 50/95)
SO 8264 1625
September 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Lias Clay was recorded from 80cms deep.
19th to 20th Century
A linear pit or ditch feature extended north- south beneath modern garden levels.
52 Barnwood Avenue, Barnwood (Site 55/95)
SO 8569 1777
August to September 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rear extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Sticky Alluvial loam overlay Lias clay base.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
1- 8 Wellington Parade (Site 56/95)
SO 8367 1874
November 1995
Observations made in trench for new east side kerb alignment 26cms deep.
Regency Terraced Houses Frontage
A row of contemporary dome-headed 7cm brick wells were exposed beneath the pavement level. The wells were approximately 2 metres deep, 1.2 metre internal diameter. A small 23cm diameter inspection hole was capped with a red sandstone slab. Respective wells contained either individual or party lead pipe-work, formerly serving pumps in the basement kitchens of the above properties.
4 Langdale Gardens, Longlevens (Site 59/95)
SO 8551 2029
November 1995
Observations made in trenches for new side extension, 1.2 metres deep.
Geological
Lias Clay overlaid by garden loam.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
254 Painswick Road, Filling Station (Site 60/95)
SO 8509 1599
November 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for new canopy supports, 2.3 metres deep.
Geological
Lias Clay with lenses of Jurassic sand/silt.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Former plough field levels contained sherds of 18th to 19th Century pottery and china wares.
8- 9 ST Kilda Parade (Site 61/95)
SO 8355 1837
September 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for rebuild of respective rear kitchens, 1.4 metres deep.
Geological
A loam Layer Above Natural overlays Jurassic sand and gravel deposits, of unknown depth.
Roman
Four undefined pit features, possibly associated with gravel extraction, cut natural, within the trenched area. A subsequent Roman/Post Roman plough soil layer cut and reduced contemporary Roman ground level down to Layer Above Natural.
Medieval to Post Medieval
A uniform thick black loam layer with numerous large charcoal flecks is associated with former agricultural land outside the walled area of the City.
63 Reservoir Road, Matson (Site 62/95)
SO 8417 1615
November 1995
Observations made in foundation trench for rear extension, 1 metre deep.
Geological
A loam Layer Above Natural overlays an orange clayey silt deposit.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Foundations of a demolished building within the former Robinswood Army Barracks site, was recorded in the trenched area.
21 Kingsholm Road, Kingsholm (Site 73/95)
SO 8348 1946
December 1995
Observations made in trenches cutting the cellar floor, to underpinning the main south side wall of the above building.
Geological
Truncated levels of Jurassic sandy gravel were recorded beneath the cellar floor.
The Kingsholm Central Roman Burial Ground
Remains of an adult inhumation lying in a prone position with feet west was dug out by the builder. The burial is sited 14.5 metres in from modern street frontage and estimated to be 1.4 metres below contemporary Roman ground level. See adjacent Roman burial (Site 34/93). A possible deeper undisturbed burial cut on the same alignment was recorded 1.4 metres west of the above inhumation burial. As with all inhumation burials recorded in the Kingsholm Central Burial Ground area there was no evidence for the Pagan custom of including additional grave goods or cremation burials.
113 Hucclecote Road, Hucclecote (Site 74/95)
SO 8788 1785
December 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches for new house in-fill within south side garden area of the above property, 1.2 metres deep.
Geological
Layer above natural overlay a thick deposit of fine silty sand.
Roman
Negative evidence for land fronting the Roman Ermin Street alignment.
Late 18th to 19th Century Sand Pit
A back filled sand pit of undefined area, extended beneath and beyond the northern half of the new building plot, maximum depth 1.4 metres.
Deans Way Redevelopment Phase 1 (Site 76/95)
SO 8328 1930
July 1994 to January 1995
Observations made in new foundation and service trenches on the site of demolished council houses; 2-38 Deans Way, 50-60 and 61-69 St Mark Street, and 45-49 Edwy Parade. Also the development surface water pipe trench extending into meadow land west of Deansway, site of the Old Severn channel.
Geological
Jurassic sandy loams and gravel were recorded along the eastern side of the development area. The levels slope westwards below site trenching towards the former silted River Severn channel bounding Kingsholm, known as the Old Severn.
Roman
Patchy and truncated Roman loam ground levels and undefined area of 1st to 2nd Century pitting were recorded in the above development area south of St Mark Street. Unstratified finds include remains of a Roman burial machined out from Roman levels. This isolated burial lies outside the Kingsholm Central Roman Burial Ground area.
Medieval to Post Medieval
Loam levels of former Kingsholm meadow land bounding the Old Severn was recorded throughout the development area, from 80 cms deep.
19th to 20th Century
Late 19th to early 20th Century City tip levels overlay the low lying Kingsholm meadow land. The pre-war Deansway council house development was subsequently built upon the made ground tip area.
The Old Severn River Channel
Upper estuarine clay silts within the Old Severn channel cut/bounded the 18th - 19th Century level of Kingsholm Meadows, 10.6 metres west of the Deansway carriage-way. An east side concrete revetment wall for a narrower open water course within the former river channel bounded the city late 19th Century tip levels 37.70 metres west of Deansway.
River Twyver Culvert
The modern culverted course of the River Twyver, diverted along the open water course alignment, was recorded 6 metres west of the above revetment wall.
Lobleys Drive, Abbeymead (Site 77/95)
SO 8660 1630
May to December 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches 1.8 metres deep.
Geological
Jurassic sand and gravel deposits overlay Lias clay.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Observations continuing.
19th Century
Some small scale localised sand and gravel pitting was recorded.
Abbeymead Avenue, Abbeymead (Site 78/95)
SO 8620 1695
October 1995 to February 1996
Observations made during machining for a new roundabout at Roman Road junction, also access road into site area.
Geological
A jurassic terrace of course gravel 1.5 metres thick above a Lias clay base was recorded beneath the Abbeymead Avenue alignment, formerly Upton Lane. Capped with brown clayey loam, the south side of the terrace thins away within the site area.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Observations continuing.
19th Century Coney Hill Hospital Estate
Two possible parallel rumble drain/boundary alignments 90cms wide by 25cm deep, packed with furnace fire clay lining fragments and some clinker was recorded at 20 metre spacings from the north side of the hospital West Lodge Drive. 19th century night manuring evidence from the former plough field areas contained hospital china ware fragments.
Thomas Stock Gardens, Abbeymead (Site 79/95)
SO 8648 1657
September - January 1996
Observations made in foundation and service trenches Plots 22 to 27, maximum depth 1.5 metres.
Geological
Alluvial brown clay overlay pockets and lenses of Jurassic sand, gravel and clay silts above a Lias clay base.
Roman (Plots 23 to 27)
Remains of a possible mid to late 1st century farm site associated with a complex of ditches and pit features, were recorded in the above plots area. Respective features contained numerous friable sherds of native cooking pot and large heavy rimmed vessel made in the Iron Age tradition, together with Severn Valley potsherds. The pottery assemblage is probably typical of small 1st century rural sites around Roman Gloucester.
The Briars, Quedgeley (Site 80/95)
SO 8080 1470
November - February 1996
Observations made during machining off site road and also in foundation trenching 1 metre deep.
Geological
Spreads and pockets of Jurassic sand and gravel overlay Lias clay base. Numerous derivative (Bunter) pebbles within a plough reduced clayey loam level post date the deposition of the limestone, sand and gravel deposits.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Observations continuing.
18th to 19th Century
Some scant evidence of night manuring was recovered in the plough soil level.
Green Farm, Quedgeley (Site 81/95)
SO 8106 1510
November - February 1996
Observations made during machining off site road and also in foundation trenching 1 metre deep.
Geological
Spreads and pockets of Jurassic sand, gravel and clay silts overlay Lias clay base. Numerous derivative (Bunter) pebbles within a plough reduced clayey loam level post date the deposition of the limestone, sand and gravel deposits.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Observations continuing.
18th to 19th Century
Evidence for night manuring within respective farm fields was recovered.
Birds Eye Walls, Barnwood (Site 82/95)
SO 8623 1894
August 1995
Observations made in foundations of new milk storage plant, 1 metre deep.
Geological
Pockets and lenses of alluvial Jurassic sandy loam overlay Lias clay.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Area previously observed (Site 24/83).
Magdalen House, London Road (Site 83/95)
SO 8411 1887
August 1995
Observations made in foundation trenches 1.4 metres deep, for west end extension onto site of demolished property 3-4 Hyde Close.
Geological
Jurassic clay and sandy silts overlay Lias clay from 1 metre deep.
Negative Archaeological Evidence
Original 19th Century foundations of 8cm brickwork on lower limestone courses, were recorded beneath a reinforced concrete rebuild of the above demolished property.
Water Main Repairs, Kingsholm (Site 2/96)
July - November 1995
Observations made in a series of boxes dug along the carriage-ways, average 1.10 metres deep.
Deans Way (East Side) SO 8335 1960
Loam Layer Above Natural recorded at 84cms deep overlays Jurassic sand and gravel of the Kingsholm Terrace.
Box outside number 64, location of southern edge to undefined area of mid 1st Century Roman Bunter and Limestone pebble metalled surface seals Layer Above Natural.
Box between numbers 66-68, part of a mid 1st Century rammed Bunter pebble metalled surface, showing successive silted and cambered layers of Bunter pebbles and Lias limestones. Possible east-west Roman street alignment.
Box outside number 70, mid 1st century military building slot-trench type feature 56cms wide. Cuts Layer Above Natural in west side section only.
Box between numbers 82-84, southern edge of a stoney, Bunter and limestone pebble metalled surface or street alignment recorded at late Roman to Saxon level.
Box between numbers 86-88, east-west trench or pit feature containing large Bunter pebbles and oolite stone, exceeds 60cms wide, cuts Layer Above Natural from Late Roman or Saxon level.
Box outside garage of number 102, adult inhumation in supine position with head east, probably associated with the Kingsholm central late Roman burial ground. Burial cuts possible contemporary Bunter pebble metalled surface level.
St Mark Street (South Side) SO 8334 1934
Box between numbers 57-59, part of 1st century Roman metalled surface. Rammed limestone pebbles on makeup of gravel and Lias stone fragments, sealed Layer Above Natural at 1.10 metres deep.
Sweetbriar Street (North Side) SO 8350 1917
Box at junction with Kingsholm Road, possible late Roman metalled surface of Bunter pebbles and Lias stone fragments above make-up of Lias stones, recorded from 74cms deep.
Box at junction with Swan Road, possible Roman surface or make-up layer of Lias stones, recorded at 90cms deep.
Denmark Road/Seabroke Street SO 83901927
Part of a Roman Lias stone foundation 48cms wide, cut Layer Above Natural. Recorded in west-side section only. The feature bounds the north-side of the former sunken Denmark Road alignment (Roman Ermin Street).
Observations continuing.
REFERENCES
Allason-Jones L, 1996, Roman Jet in the Yorkshire Museum, York
Garrod A P & Heighway C, 1984, Garrod's Gloucester, Western Archaeological Trust
Philpott R, 1991, Burial Practices in Roman Britain, BAR 219, Oxford
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