C257 XSM10 Broadgate Ticket Hall Combined Reporting Pits 4 and 11 Tr 14 and 15 Pile
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C257 ARCHAEOLOGY CENTRAL Fieldwork Report Archaeological Excavated Evaluations and Watching Briefs Pit 4, Pit 11, Trench 14 and 15, Pile Line Pits and SSET/UKPN Utility Diversions, Broadgate Ticket Hall (XSM10) Document Number: C257-MLA-X-RGN-CRG02-50113 Document History: Revision: Date: Prepared by: Checked by: Approved by: Reason for Issue: 1.0 15.05.12 For CRL Review 2.0 20.06.12 For CRL Review Document uncontrolled once printed. All controlled documents are saved on the CRL Document System © Crossrail Limited RESTRICTED C257 Broadgate Combined Reporting Pits 4 & 11 Tr 14 & 15 Pile Line and SSET Fieldwork Report v2 20-06-12.doc Crossrail Broadgate Ticket Hall Excavated Evaluation and GWBs, Fieldwork Report (XSM10), Doc No. C257-MLA-X-RGN-CRG02-50113 v2 Non-technical summary This report covers two evaluation trenches and four archaeological watching briefs carried out by the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) on the site of the future Crossrail Broadgate Ticket Hall, Liverpool Street, London EC2M, within the City of London. The site consists of the proposed utilities corridor and the Broadgate Ticket Hall construction worksite. It incorporates the western end of the roadway of Liverpool Street, and it’s north and south pavements. The report was commissioned from MOLA by Crossrail Ltd. This work follows a previous phase of archaeological evaluation (ending July 2011). While the results of these latest evaluations and watching briefs broadly confirm anticipated findings, they have led to some re-interpretation of previous evaluation results. Natural terrace gravels were overlaid by weathered natural deposits of alluvial clay, interspersed with occasional bands of gravel. While no prehistoric remains were discovered, evidence has been found for several phases of Roman extra-mural activity from between the c 1st and 3rd centuries, including a ditch, pits, dump layers, and several ground surfaces. The latter may represent several phases of a minor Roman road. However, although disarticulated human bone was again found in Roman contexts, no in situ Roman burials have been discovered. Residual medieval finds were recovered but no medieval deposits or features have been identified. Moreover, no medieval remains associated with St Mary Bethlehem Hospital have been found. The post-Roman to early post-medieval sequence is characterised by series of marsh deposits. These deposits were sealed across the whole site by early post-medieval reclamation deposits, deliberately laid to consolidate ground for the establishment of Bethlehem Burial Ground. A total of 87 in situ post-medieval burials were recorded during this phase, increasing the number of archaeologically excavated in situ burials on this site to 327. The burial ground included three phases of burial, including early burials without coffins, a phase of burial in pits, and a final phase of individual mainly coffined inhumations. The burial ground was sealed by a horizon formed of disturbed cemetery soil incorporating refuse and possible consolidation dumping, possibly associated with the urbanisation of the area in the mid to late 18th-century. This horizon, together with the backfills of later graves below, contained a large and rare assemblage post- medieval worked animal bone and ivory waste, as well as other industrial waste such as glass slag. This could indicate the type of industries with the local area, with industrial waste dumped while the cemetery was still in use and continued after it was closed. The site represents a rare chance to explore and define Roman extra-mural activity within this area, with a high potential for Roman remains, including land management, infrastructure and potential burials. The site also offers a rare opportunity to document an important post-medieval cemetery, made even more significant by it’s association with the Hospital of St Mary Bethlehem (Bedlam). In addition, 16th to 18th-century burials such as these are a hitherto underrepresented archaeological subject and their excavation will help further our knowledge and understanding of society, life, death and burial during this time. The archaeological results from this phase of work at Liverpool Street will be used by the Crossrail archaeologist to revise and finalise the mitigation strategy for the site. ii Document uncontrolled once printed. All controlled documents are saved on the CRL Document System © Crossrail Limited RESTRICTED Crossrail Broadgate Ticket Hall Excavated Evaluation and GWBs, Fieldwork Report (XSM10), Doc No. C257-MLA-X-RGN-CRG02-50113 v2 Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 8 2 Planning background ............................................................................................. 10 3 Origin and scope of the report .............................................................................. 10 4 Previous work relevant to archaeology of site ..................................................... 10 5 Geology and topography of site ............................................................................ 12 6 Archaeological and Historical Background ......................................................... 13 7 Research objectives and aims............................................................................... 15 7.1 Objectives of the fieldwork .................................................................................... 15 7.2 Research Aims ....................................................................................................... 15 8 Methodology of site-based and off-site work ....................................................... 17 8.1 General .................................................................................................................... 17 8.2 Excavation methodology (Pit 4 and Trench 14) ................................................... 18 8.3 Targeted Watching Brief methodology (Pit 11) .................................................... 20 8.4 General Watching Brief Methodology (Trench 15, SSET/UKPN diversion, and utilities corridor northern pile line pits) .................................................. 20 9 Results and observations including stratigraphic report and quantitative report ...................................................................................................... 22 9.1 Excavated Evaluation Trenches ............................................................................ 23 9.2 Targeted Watching Brief ........................................................................................ 35 9.3 General Watching Briefs ........................................................................................ 40 10 Assessment of results against original expectations and review of evaluation strategy ..................................................................................................... 71 10.1 Reliability of results ............................................................................................... 71 10.2 Research aims ........................................................................................................ 72 11 Statement of potential archaeology ...................................................................... 73 11.1 Known remains, demonstrated to be present on the site: .................................. 73 11.2 Potential for further remains: ................................................................................ 73 11.3 Importance of Resources ...................................................................................... 74 12 Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 75 12.1 Geology ................................................................................................................... 75 12.2 Prehistoric remains ................................................................................................ 76 12.3 Roman remains ...................................................................................................... 76 12.4 Medieval remains ................................................................................................... 81 12.5 Post-medieval remains .......................................................................................... 81 12.6 19th-century remains ............................................................................................. 86 iii Document uncontrolled once printed. All controlled documents are saved on the CRL Document System © Crossrail Limited RESTRICTED Crossrail Broadgate Ticket Hall Excavated Evaluation and GWBs, Fieldwork Report (XSM10), Doc No. C257-MLA-X-RGN-CRG02-50113 v2 13 Recommendations for appropriate mitigation strategy ...................................... 87 13.1 Revised and new objectives for further fieldwork ............................................... 88 14 Publication and dissemination proposals ............................................................ 89 15 Archive deposition ................................................................................................. 89 16 Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 90 17 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ 91 18 NMR OASIS archaeological report form ..............................................................