Former Southwark Sorting Office, Swan Street, Southwark SE1;
TQ 3245 7965; (Mark Beasley); excavation; Oct-Nov 1998; Bellway Homes; SWN98
Natural sand and gravel was observed across the site. Double basementing to the south
of the site had removed all archaeological deposits and it was only in the far north of
the site that a complete archaeological sequence had survived.
The earliest features on the site were of probable pre-Roman, possibly agricultural,
settlement represented by field boundaries and drainage features, with small temporary
post-built buildings.
A concentration of domestic rubbish pits to the north of the site indicate settlement
dating to the Roman period, with the pits representing the backs of properties extending
down to a settlement boundary ditch. The pottery dates suggest at least two phases of
activity in this area of the site: early 1st - early 2nd century associated with large
ditches to the north of the site; then during the late early 2nd century the settlement
spread southwards into previously marginal or farm land, possibly with a southern boundary
represented by a large ditch.
Fifteen wells or shafts across the site appear to be fairly closely dated from around
AD 60-120. The large number of these would be excessive for merely domestic use but at
present there is little evidence to indicate the industrial use of the site that might
require such a number of wells. Six of the well shafts contained deliberately 'killed'
vessels, suggesting these features are ritual shafts. The skeleton of an adult male was
found head down against the side of one shaft and this one also contained a fractured
vessel, four iron spikes and a dog skull.
Two large rubbish pits and two barrel wells were dated to the Medieval period.
Post-Medieval features were recorded across the site. Eight wells, the majority to the
north of the site, were constructed in a variety of ways including barrel-lined,
wicker-lined and one lined with re-used stone and brick. Other features of this date
mainly comprised large pits, one a possible tanning pit. The most recent archaeological
activity on the site comprised three pits containing large quantities of white slipped
sugar moulds dating to 1650-1750.
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