SDO11457 - Gillingham, Waitrose Supermarket; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

The archaeological field evaluation on the site of a proposed extension to the existing car park at the Waitrose supermarket, Gillingham, Dorset was carried out by AC archaeology during May 1998. The site lies in an area of proven archaeological potential and incorporates surviving elements of a once extensive set of earthworks which have been shown by excavation to relate to a former suburb of the Medieval town of Gillingham, and associated field systems of earlier investigations. This evaluation comprised the machine excavation of two trenches and the combined hand and machine excavation of twenty trial pits, generally 1m square, although some were extended owing to the need to further clarify features. Some were positioned to smaple specific earthworks, other to provide coverage of the site. The evaluation revealed archaeological features and structural evidence across most parts of the site. These include a well preserved medieval wall footing, possibly part of a building, at the northern end of the site and possible middle-Saxon evidence in the southern zone. The central part of the site contained extensive evidence for medieval settlement and agricultural activity. Mesolithic flints and Romano-British pottery were recovered from alluvial layers, and from later residual contexts. Quantities of 12th-14th century pottery were recovered as well as fired clay and burnt stone from the souther area, possibly sugestive of Saxon industrial activity.