Church of All Saints, Harston, Cambridgeshire: An Archaeological Watching Brief [2015] (original) (raw)

Recent Archaeological Investigations at All Saints Cathedral, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Recent discoveries by Wessex Archaeology and Archaeological Services WYAS have provided the first tangible evidence for the Anglo-Saxon origins of All Saints Cathedral, Wakefield. The excavations identified 23 articulated skeletons and the disarticulated remains of a minimum of 91 individuals. The burials appear to separate into four periods: Anglo-Saxon, late 10th or early 11th century; late Anglo-Saxon to medieval; the 15th to 17th centuries; and, from at least 1718–1856. Analysis of the graves and skeletal remains has provided insights into health and burial practices in Wakefield over nine centuries of its history.

An archaeological evaluation at St Mary's church, Hardwick, South Cambridgeshire

An archaeological evaluation of a site behind St. Mary’s Church, Hardwick was carried out by the Cambridge Archaeology Field Group (CAFG) over the weekend of the 25th/26th June, 2016. Two 3m x 1m trenches were excavated within the footprint of a proposed new building, together with a number of auger surveys. No significant finds were made and there was no clear evidence of any archaeological features within the area, despite the nearby church which is known to be of at least 14th/15th C date.

Recent Discoveries at All Saints Cathedral, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

The archaeological investigations conducted in advance of reordering the nave for Wakefield Cathedral Chapter's 'Project 2013' provide the first scientific dating evidence to support the suspected Anglo-Saxon origins of the church although no corresponding building remains were identified. Additionally, the south side of a probable Norman church was recorded beneath the columns of the south arcade but much of the north side had probably been removed during late 19th-century renovations. It is suggested that the Norman church was both smaller and of a simpler form than previously thought. Masons' marks on the stonework of the 14th-century arcades indicate the work of 22 individuals and suggest that the aisles were either constructed at slightly different times or by teams of stonemasons. The majority of the burials beneath the nave were Georgian and Victorian in date and were consistent with high-status intramural burials of the period.

ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL SOUTH CHURCHYARDAn archaeological watching brief report .pdf

This report presents the results of archaeological monitoring by the Museum of London Archaeology Service on the site of St Paul’s Cathedral south churchyard, London, EC4. The report was commissioned from MoLAS by the Cathedral Archaeologist Dr John Schofield on behalf of the client, the Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral. The watching brief followed an earlier evaluation of the site by MoLAS (2005), comprising of targeted trench excavations, which had exposed areas of the cloister and chapter house of the medieval cathedral. Landscaping in the south churchyard was monitored between 26th July and 29th September 2006. Parts of the medieval cloister were exposed and protected within the landscaping (which includes a partial representation of the cloister and chapter house). Areas surviving to a higher level than had previously been exposed were protected within the foundation of new walls representing the cloister. All remains were surveyed onto the Ordnance Survey National Grid Projection via a direct link traverse to OS control stations and levels recorded to OS datum, the records of which should assist their future preservation. Significant new details were added to historic observations and the remains exposed in evaluation trenches. These included the external threshold and the western range which had 3 long panels of diagonally laid Purbeck slabs, 2 slabs wide towards the outside, 1.5 in the centre and 1 slab wide to the inside. This contrasts with panels of equal thickness on the eastern range (1.5 slabs wide). This is the first time this detail has been recorded. Detailed drawings were made of architectural mouldings which may be compared with historic records. A previously unknown area of good preservation lay in a constructed void below steps to the previous southern garden gate. Comparison of stone from the cloister wall with the Museum of London’s historic building materials specialist comparative collection indicated that the yellow limestone of which they were made came from Taynton (from near Burford, Oxfordshire) rather than Caen, as indicated by a geologist during the field evaluation. However, detailed examination of the fabric of the masonry indicated reused material in the walls so their immediate source was probably buildings which stood nearby, or on the spot, before the cloister was built. It is entirely possible that the stone came from more than one source. Also exposed was a large stone and red brick curved foundation, possibly temporary work for Inigo Jones or Wren St Paul's construction, measuring 1.8m by 9m+. This has never before been recorded and its precise function is unknown but had it been a permanent structure in this location it is thought there would have been a record of it. Below it was a large red-brick culvert built by Wren. It is moot whether the foundation was built over the culvert (and was therefore later) or the culvert was tunnelled beneath the foundation. The “Gas Chamber” a subterranean concrete room associated with the provision of town gas to the cathedral was uncovered and recorded, as was an old ragstone foundation at its base.

Excavations at St Mary's Church, Black Bourton, Oxfordshire: Early, Middle, and Late Saxon Activity.

An excavation of a small area to the west of St Mary’s Church, Black Bourton, prior to the extension of the cemetery, was carried out by John Moore Heritage Services in June 2006, expanding upon previous work conducted in 2002. The excavation revealed an early to mid-Saxon domestic settlement,possibly with associated religious activity, suggested by two circular post-built structures that might have been shrines. The mid-Saxon period of settlement included sunken-floored buildings and postbuilt structures, with evidence of metalworking. It is notable for a small collection of Ipswich-ware pottery. Domestic activity on the site may have lasted until the eleventh century.

St. Peter's Church, Barton-upon-Humber: Excavation and Structural Study, 1978–81

The Antiquaries Journal, 1982

SummaryFour seasons of excavation and structural study in St. Peter's Church have revealed a complex sequence, beginning with domestic occupation of the Pagan Saxon period, followed by a Middle Saxon settlement enclosure with adjacent cemetery of Christian character. In the later tenth century a three-celled turriform church was built in the cemetery, after the exhumation of graves covering its intended site. Related features in the cemetery include the foundation of a large free-standing cross, a group of wells and an oven, probably for baking bread, all grouped to the east of the chancel. Some of the pre-Conquest graves yielded evidence of probable barkwood coffins built with clenches and roves, while some twenty further graves contained rectangular timber coffins in varying states of preservation. Several were in near-perfect condition and have yielded exceptionally good evidence for techniques and tools employed by Anglo-Saxon carpenters.The extant Saxon and medieval fabric ...

Excavating All Saints; a medieval church rediscovered

When excavations started at the site of the ‘lost’ church of All Saint’s in York, archaeologists knew they would find burials. What they found was much more than expected: a medieval Anchoress and the remains of soldiers who helped Oliver Cromwell take the city at the Siege of York in 1644.