New Court, Trinity College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desktop Assessment.

Abstract

An open area excavation, covering an area of 49.2m2, was undertaken at Orchard Court, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, between the 19th and the 27th of July 2011. This revealed the presence of a number of features of Roman date. Most significant amongst these was a portion of a metalled surface associated with a series of underlying make-up deposits. Constructed in a single phase, most probably during the 2nd century AD, this feature represents a direct continuation of a northwest to southeast-oriented surface that was first identified at the site in 2009. This metalling has therefore been identified as comprising part of the Cambridge to Godmanchester road. Flanking this road to the northeast were a series of intercuting quarry pits, which also contained 2nd century material along with residual Iron Age worked flint. It thus appears possible that these quarries were first utilised during the road's initial construction. In addition, four further features were also present at the site. These included a shallow gully, forming part of a probable roadside enclosure, and three further intercutting pits, all of which contained material dating to the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD. Finally, circumstantial evidence indicating the presence of a relatively high-status Roman building in the near vicinity was also recovered.