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DIGGING took place from September 18th until October
14th, 1944. During the first three weeks, four paid labourers were
employed; and during the whole four weeks, including Saturday and Sunday
afternoons, there were in addition an average number of at least five
volunteers. The total number of volunteers who worked during the period
was 84.
The site explored was situated between the blitzed ruins of
St. George's Church and the fragment of the old city wall adjoining the
site of St. George's Gate; the site was intersected by Burgate Lane
which was not disturbed.
1. The portion West of Burgate Lane, formerly Martin's
shop, had cellars 7ft. or 8ft. below modern road-level. Here several
Roman pits were found and a gully which would seem to have been some
sort of drain. The pits were filled with household rubbish, broken
pottery, scraps of metal, a few coins, many oyster shells and animal
bones (pig, ox, sheep or goat). The pottery types and coins range from
the second century onwards. Although no traces of |
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buildings were found, it seems certain that there
must have been houses in the near vicinity.
2. The portion East of Burgate Lane, immediately adjacent
to the city wall, was at modern road-level (i.e. no cellars). Here
excavation was complicated by the discovery, at 2ft. below surface, of a
wall of comparatively recent date in which were found scraps of
mediæval pottery and a rare London farthing of Richard II. Digging
continued to the base of the fragment of city wall but no Roman work was
found; it therefore seems that the Roman wall here lay in front of (i.e.
outside) the later wall.
In addition, at Martyr's Field (Inhumation Cemetary No. 4
of Victoria County History) trial trenches were cut in the area
to be used for the extension of Oxford Road, but no burials were found.
MAJOR F. W. TOMLINSON, F.S.A.,
Hon. Secretary, Canterbury Excavation Committee.
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