Event/Activity EPM81 - An archaeological watching brief at the new Business School, University of Portsmouth, Richmond Place, Portsmouth, Hants

Watching brief carried out during works for the building of a new buisness school and car park for the University of Portsmouth. A geophysical survey, using a Geonics EM-31 terrain conductivity meter in conjunction with a DL-720 digital data logger to carry out an electromagnetic inductive ground conductivity assessment, was undertaken by the client in May 2002. The survey did not locate any meaningful information. The excavation of a number of geotechnical test pits was observed in May 2002, together with piling operations in July. Very little archaeological observation could be made during the latter, the only thing of note being dark organic silt expelled from various holes. This appeared to confirm a heavy dark organic silt layer seen in the geotechnical pits at a depth of about 1.3 to 1.6 metres, which contained occasional 19th century ceramics. This layer was interpreted as silt from the former Town Mill Pond, the northern arm of which once covered the development site. This had been infilled sometime between 1790 and 1838. By 1838 the street plan which existed until recently had formed, the site then being redeveloped as the result of bomb damage during the Second World War. Little or no evidence of activity earlier than the Mill Pond was observed. The first reference to the mill is thought to date to the 12th century. No evidence of the Post-Medieval fortifications was found, suggesting these were located to the east of the development site's boundary. Accession number 2002/153