April 2008
Excavations at Kensington
Palace
Pre-Construct Archaeology recently conducted a series of archaeological
investigations on behalf of Historic Royal Palaces in the grounds
of Kensington Palace. One trench was dug on land adjacent to the
east wing in a grassed garden area termed “Alice’s Tree”,
three were opened in White Court, the supposed core of the Jacobean
Palace, and a further two were excavated in the Rose Garden.
Excavation and Open Day at
Chester Road, Manchester
A public open day held by PCA on Saturday 12 April 2008 attracted
hundreds of visitors of all ages. Many came along to the site of
the former Tom Garner Motors premises on Chester Road to see one
of the most important archaeological finds ever made in Manchester.
A field team from PCA made the highly significant discovery –
an inscribed stone altar of Roman date - during a two-month programme
of excavation. The site lay on the opposite side of the River Medlock
to Mamucium, the Roman promontory fort and associated settlement
located in the Castlefield area of the modern city, and the investigations
have provided important new evidence regarding the extent of Roman
occupation in the city.
Legionary Gemstone discovered
from Drapers’ Gardens
Excavations at Drapers’ Gardens recovered a large number
of exciting small finds. Perhaps the most beautiful is a small oval
gemstone (or intaglio) some 15 x 11mm. The design cut into the stone’s
face is a strongly military one, depicting a legionary eagle perched
on a thunderbolt and holding a victory wreath in its beak. To either
side of the eagle are maniple standards, topped by a hand. The specialist
on Roman gemstones from Britain, Dr Martin Henig (Oxford University),
has suggested that the style of the gem cutting and the stone (which
is red jasper) indicates a late second-century date. He also says
that this intaglio is the finest example of its type known to him
from Roman Britain.
March 2008
M74 Completion Project, Glasgow, Scotland
HAPCA, a joint venture between Pre-Construct Archaeology and Headland
Archaeology, is undertaking one of Britain’s largest ever
archaeological projects on the M74 Completion Project. The new eight
kilometres stretch of road across Glasgow and South Lanarkshire
will complete a vital part of the west of Scotland’s motorway
network. The project includes the excavation of the Caledonian Pottery
Works, the Govan Iron Works and a block of tenements at Pollokshaws
Road. Evaluations were also undertaken on a further 10 sites which
have led to the subsequent additional excavation of a biscuit factory,
lime works, tenement buildings, a foundry and Falfield Mill. Of
great importance on the project is the public archaeology programme,
which includes site visits, museum displays, oral history, lectures,
working with schools, simulated dig and workshops. Further information
on all aspects of the project can be seen at the following website
December 2007
Pre-Construct Archaeology has recently finished a major excavation at Drapers Gardens which could prove to be one of the most important London excavations in recent years. Amongst the large quantity of truly spectacular Roman finds the highlight of the site was a hoard of metal vessels recovered from a late 4th century well, which are currently on temporary display in the Museum of London until 27th January 2008.Read our news article here.
A Press Release for the Hoard of Metal Vessels was held at the Museum of London on Thursday 6th December. PCA staff together with Jenny Hall, Curator of the Roman Department of the Museum of London, fielded a raft of questions from journalists. The Hoard is currently on temporary display at the Museum of London until the 27th January 2008.
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Chris Jarrett - the archaeologist who found the hoard is interviewed by a member of the press. |
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Neil Hawkins - Drapers' Gardens Site Supervisor being interviewed. |
October 2007
We will soon be publishing a journal article in London Archaeologist, titled
"Life at a lawyer's courts in the early modern period: new finds
from Inner Temple". We have a small preview of the article (with
pictures) available here.
March 2007
Bermondsey Square lies within the boundary of the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Bermondsey Abbey, founded as the Cluniac Priory of St Saviour, in c. AD 1086. The monastery became a Benedictine Abbey in AD 1399 and was dissolved by Henry VIII in AD 1538.
Read the full article here
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Looking east - showing the substantial medieval and early post-medieval remains uncovered in the north-east part of the Square. These included part of the south tower of the western facade of the Abbey church, the main south
wall of the church and in the background cellars that were part of a 16th century 'mansion' which incorporated parts of the Abbey within its construction.
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December 2006
Our new Monograph - "Reclaiming the Marsh, Archaeological Excavations at Moor House, City of London" has been published.
Available through Heritage Marketing and Publications priced £22.50
September 2006
Execution Site Memorial, Tower Green, Tower of London
PCA undertook an archaeological investigation on behalf of Historic Royal Palaces earlier this year on the traditional location of the execution site, on Tower Green approximately twenty-three metres south of the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, within the grounds of the Tower of London. The work was in advance of the construction of a contemporary memorial to ten people whose executions are traditionally associated with this location on Tower Green.
A brick plinth was found within the trench which was the remains of an earlier memorial to the execution site ordered by Queen Victoria in 1866.
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| The earlier memorial to the execution site |
The new memorial by British artist Brian Catling, commemorating such figures as the three queens, Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey together with three Black Watch soldiers who were executed in the 18th century, was unveiled on 4 September 2006.
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| Unveiling of the new memorial |
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