Monument record MDO28218 - Oyster midden, Paradise Street, Poole

Part of an extensive Late Saxon/early medieval oyster shell midden, which reclaimed the foreshore beneath Paradise Street, was exposed by excavation in 1976. A late 11th century radiocarbon date was obtained from the shells.

Excavation by Poole Museum Service in Paradise Street to the south of the Town Cellars revealed a deposit of oyster shells over 0.5 m thick. The top surface of this deposit sloped down towards the south. It appeared to be very similar in character to the oyster shell deposit found under the Town Cellars and is likely to be part of the same midden. A radiocarbon date of 1095+/-108ad was obtained from the shells. The oyster midden beneath Paradise Street is part of a more extensive Late Saxon/early medieval midden deposit in this area which slopes down towards the shore and either deliberately or inadvertantly reclaimed the sloping foreshore.

Record last edited

Jan 3 2013 4:51PM