Project Charlotte: An Archaeological Evaluation of the Great Central Railway viaduct at Great Central Street, Leicester (Phase 2 interim)

During the seven trench evaluation modern hardstanding, overburden and soil was removed in level spits under continuous archaeological supervision down to the uppermost archaeological deposits or the natural substratum, depending on which was reached first. This was carried out with a 5 ton 360� Kubota U48-4 mechanical digger using a 1.6m wide toothless ditching bucket. The trench was stepped or battered where necessary for safety. All open areas, exposed sections, and spoil heaps were visually inspected for features and artefacts. No archaeological features or human remains were identified during the evaluation of the embankment. The embankment was clearly made ground and, as it abuts the railway viaduct, its construction can be confidently dated to between 1897 (when the viaduct was built) and 1902, when the embankment was shown on the 2nd edition 25" Ordnance Survey map of Leicester (Leicestershire XXXI.10). No evidence of intrusion into the embankment was observed and it seems likely that features relating to the Quaker's memorial garden, visible in 1927, were superficial.