Monument MPM1193 - Pits, Wilton Place

Four pits and an unidentified feature observed during a watching brief in Wilton Place in 2008, possibly relating to buildings marked on a map of 1716. Finds included burnt flint, animal bone and pottery.

Four pits and an unidentified feature were observed during a watching brief on land to the east and west of Laurel Cottage, Wilton Place, Southsea in 2008. These may relate to a cluster of buildings in this area marked on Edwards's map of 1716.

The four pits were recorded in the area to the east of the cottage. The first pit (3) was U-shaped and measured 680mm wide by 420mm deep. Its fill did not contain any finds, and this feature was possibly natural, rather than archaeological. The second pit (5) was bowl-shaped and measured 940mm Wide by 360mm deep. Its fill contained fragments of burnt flint and very worn fragment of pottery, possibly medieval in date. The third pit (7) also appeared to be bowl-shaped. It measured 1.10m wide by 250mm deep and was at least 1.95m long. Its fill was very wet with worm tracks, and contained 1 fire-reddened flint. The fourth pit (9) was bowl-shaped and measured 1.75m long by 1.85m wide and 270mm deep. Its fill contained small fragments of fire-reddened flint.

One feature (11) was observed in the area to the west of the cottage. This was bowl-shaped, and measured 600mm long by 750mm wide and 410mm deep. Its fill contained degraded fragments of animal bone, possibly a cow jaw, and fire-reddened flints.

Most of the site was covered by a 700mm thick layer of garden soil, which sealed all five features. The top of this layer was heavily disturbed and contained large amounts of demolition rubble. The lower half contained fragments of Victorian chine and pearlware, with occasional animal bone and oyster shell.

Accession number: 2008/123

Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit, 2008, Archaeological Watching Brief at Wilton Place, Southsea (Unpublished document). SPM165.