Medieval Buildings found during an Archaeological Watching Brief on Land beside Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge

Abstract

The construction of a temporary building on land next to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, required an archaeological watching brief, undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit in the summer of 2002 (TL 4491 5788). The results of which revealed evidence of occupation activity dating from the Saxo-Norman to Medieval periods (11th - 15th centuries), through to the Post Medieval periods (16th - 19th centuries). The earliest horizon was an 11/12th century sub/plough soil into which occupation features of postholes and pits had been cut in the Saxo-Norman period. Residual Roman pottery sherds had also become incorporated into some of these features and the plough soil. Larger pits, also Saxo- Norman in date were partially exposed, possibly being gravel extraction pits later used for rubbish disposal. Sealing these pits were mortar floors and walls relating to a large substantial clunch built structure, of c. 13th century date, one internal wall had the plaster facing still surviving. Evidence of demolition rubble and truncating pits dating to the 15th century suggested that some of the walls had been demolished by this period. Later activity on the site could be seen with 16th century layers and pits cutting through these earlier deposits, as well as an 18th century drain relating to the post-Medieval structures that stood on the site before being demolished in the mid 19th century when the Museum was built.