Monument MPM2038 - Granite block, north-west of Dry Dock No.3, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Granite block recorded in a trial pit to the north-west of Dry Dock No.3 in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in 2008. The block may have formed part of the construction of the dock and basin of Dry Dock No.3.

A granite block, interpreted as probably forming part of the construction of the dock and basin, was encountered c.0.60m below ground in a trial pit excavated to the north-west of Dry Dock No.3 (MPM786) as part of geotechnical investigations in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in 2008.

Only 0.15m of the block was exposed as excavation of the trial pit was stopped when it was encountered. Above the block was a 0.15m layer of mid reddish brown silty clay and loose gravel made ground. This was overlain by a 0.10m layer of hardcore and a 0.20m thick layer of cobbles which formed the modern ground surface.

Structural elements of the dock were recorded in further observation pits and boreholes during the investigations. See MPM2034-2037.

Sayer, Kathelen, 2009, Archaeological Monitoring of Geotechnical Works at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Unpublished document). SPM612.