Event/Activity EPM171 - Archaeological Monitoring of Geotechnical Borehole Findings at Portsmouth Northern Quarter

Archaeology South-East carried out the archaeological recording of samples taken from geotechnical borehole cores at Portsmouth Northern Quarter on the 4th January, 22nd February and 19th March 2007. The work was undertaken as a proposed new development on the site had the potential to impact upon archaeological deposits below ground. Where appropriate, a full photographic record of black and white negative and colour slides was made. Samples from 35 of 46+ boreholes excavated were examined post-drilling in batches of c. 14 stored at a central repository at the site, and an archaeological record produced. As the samples were taken at random depths chosen by the geotechnical engineers and not observed in situ, no stratigraphic information could be obtained. An indication of the depths of the deposits recorded archaeologically was obtained from the geotechnical borehole logs produced by the engineering company. No artefacts of archaeological significance were recovered from the samples, with finds comprising mainly post-medieval and modern ceramic building material. However, the samples may not have been representative of the deposits from which they were derived as they were particularly small. It is therefore possible that some of the samples had come from archaeologically significant deposits. The boreholes were also fairly small and the areas that were examined restricted, suggesting that the results may not be a true representation of the archaeological potential of the site. Accession number: 2007/18