Archaeological Monitoring and Recording at Land to the Rear of 35 Rollestone Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Rollestone Street Ltd to undertake archaeological monitoring and recording (AMR) during ground investigation works at 35 Rollestone Street, Salisbury. The groundworks (under constant archaeological monitoring) comprised the excavation of three mechanically dug test pits, measuring approximately 1 m by 0.80 m in order to assess the condition and depth of the current foundations. Excavation continued until natural geology was reached or in-situ archaeology was identified (whichever was encountered first). The attending archaeologist monitored all mechanical excavations within the specified area. Where necessary, the surfaces of uncovered archaeological deposits were cleaned by hand to aid visual definition. A sample of archaeological features and deposits was hand-excavated, sufficient to address the project aims. Spoil from machine stripping and hand-excavated archaeological deposits was visually scanned for the purposes of finds retrieval. Artefacts were collected and bagged by context. All artefacts from excavated contexts were retained, although those from features of modern date (19th century or later) were recorded on site and not retained. The AMR confirmed the depth of the foundations of the current buildings to be quite shallow, measuring in depth between 0.10 m and 0.20 m from the current ground level, and consisting of either brick or concrete. While there was a degree of disturbed and made ground in all three of the monitored test pits, deposits of an archaeological origin were seen in every positions. Potential demolition material associated with houses on the frontage of Rollestone Street was encountered in Test Pit 1 at a depth of 0.23 m below ground level (bgl), and which were above construction material which was used as a base for medieval houses of Salisbury to be built on. Chalk deposits encountered within Test Pits 2 and 3 (0.60 m and 0.90 m bgl respectively) were initially believed to be bedrock, but after further analysis it was determined that they are layers of chalk which had been brought in to create a stable base for dwellings to be built on over the natural fluvial deposits. Given the small scale of the groundworks, both in number of test pits and their size, it is uncertain that these deposits encountered are an accurate representation of the general make-up of the wider site.