Monument MPM1389 - Prehistoric Post-holes, New Theatre Royal

Post-holes revealed during a watching brief in 2013. Three of the post-holes were thought to be prehistoric, and the fourth may also have dated to the same period. Two contained fragments of Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery.

Four features, interpreted as post-holes, were revealed during a watching brief at the New Theatre Royal in 2013. Three of the post-holes were identified as prehistoric, and the fourth may also have dated to the same period. The post-holes generally contained burnt flint and fragments of burnt clay/daub. Two of the post-holes contained Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery.

The first post-hole (F27) was located in the bottom of a post-medieval pit (see MPM1390) in the north-west of the site. The post-hole was oval in plan with near-vertical sides and a slightly concave base. It measured 550mm long, 410mm wide and 230mm deep. Its fill consisted of a brown sandy clay loam which contained two fragments of burnt flint.

The second post-hole (F31) was located north of F27. It was also oval in plan with near-vertical sides and a slightly concave base, and measured 700mm long, 500m wide and 400mm deep. Its fill consisted of a brown sandy clay loam which contained a few burnt flints, fragments of burnt clay/daub and a sherd from a Bronze Age jar.

The third post-hole (F41) was located to the south of F27 and F31. This post-hole was roughly circular in plan with a bowl-shaped profile. It measured 700m long, 600mm wide and 250mm deep. Its fill consisted of a dark grey sandy clay loam which contained a few burnt flints, 2 fragments of burnt clay/daub, and 3 sherds of Iron Age pottery from a saucepan pot.

The fourth feature, also thought to be a post-hole, was located south of F27 and F31 and approximately 500mm west of F41. It was roughly circular in form with sloped sides and a concave base, and measured 895mm long, 850mm wide and 389mm deep. Its fill consisted of a greyish brown sandy clay loam which contained a few burnt flints, fragments of burnt clay/daub, and a fragment from a late medieval/post-medieval roof tile. It was thought that the feature was possibly prehistoric, and that the tile had been introduced to its fill at a later date.

It was thought possible that the burnt flints and burnt clay/daub may not have been of prehistoric origin, and that the post-holes may have dated to the medieval or post-medieval period. However, the Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery recovered from the post-holes, and a worked flint found in the fill of a post-medieval pit (see MPM1390), suggests there was prehistoric activity within the vicinity of the site.

Accession number: 2013/535.

Anderson, E L & Cottrell, P R, 2013, Archaeological Watching Brief at the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth (Unpublished document). SPM255.