St. John's Triangle, Cambridge: An Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief.

Abstract

Following on from two earlier phases of investigation at the St. John's Triangle site, nine trenches, covering a combined total of 35.6m2, were excavated within a 0.3 hectare area of land located in the centre of the historic core of Cambridge. In addition, a further ten areas of watching brief, covering a combined total of c.70m2, were also monitored. These investigations primarily targeted backyard areas situated to the rear of the main frontage properties. The site - which is situated upon the northern tip of a gravel spur, immediately adjacent to the floodplain of the river Cam - contained the deepest stratigraphic sequence yet encountered within the city (at around 4.2m), and a significant history of occupation was revealed. Evidence of 2nd/3rd century settlement was uncovered, which was succeeded by the re-establishment of occupation during the 10th century. Thye area was then incorporated into the Saxo-Norman Jewry, prior to becoming a thriving mercantile quarter from the Medieval period onwards.