Monument record MDO19333 - Sainsbury's car park, Christchurch (site W5); possible late medieval quarry pits

Excavation in Sainsbury’s car park, Christchurch, during 1981 (site W5), revealed evidence for three large quarry pits containing medieval pottery in the upper fill of one. It seems like that much of the area north of the town defences may have been used as a quarry area, possibly in the late medieval period.

Wessex Archaeological Committee conducted an excavation in Sainsbury’s car park, Christchurch, during 1981(site W5) in order to investigate activity north of the medieval town defences. The results were subsequently published in PDNHAS volume 105 (1). The excavation revealed evidence for three large quarry pits. The only finds from these pits were two sherds of probably medieval pottery from the very top of one, not certainly from the proper fill, and several pieces of burnt flint. The maximum depth of these ‘quarry’ pits from the tarmac surface was 2m. Because of the limitations of the size of the trench (9m x 4m) and the amount of post medieval and modern destruction it is impossible to interpret the majority of features satisfactorily. It seems likely, however, that much of the area north of the town defences may have been used as a quarry area, possibly in the late medieval period.

Record last edited

Oct 17 2013 3:49PM