Me and my research: Gareth Davies

and medieval discoveries were made.

Back in 2007, when Nottingham’s new tram routes were being planned, we at Trent & Peak Archaeology carried out some extensive desk-based assessments that enabled Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to identify key sites that required investigation in order to prevent potential archaeology being destroyed.

By the time construction was due to begin, we had a good idea of two main sites where we wanted to look. The main advantage of urban archaeology is that the same places can be inhabited over a long period, allowing deposits to build up.

Digging at the site of the former Lenton Priory in Nottingham revealed a marvellous sequence of activity all the way from the late 11th century, when it was founded, until after the Dissolution.

As well as discovering the original boundary ditches, which contained well-preserved leather artefacts, we were also able to look at the outer precinct of the building where the fair or markets would have been held.

South of the city at the Clifton site, we had anticipated there might be late iron age features, with material extending into the Roman period. What we actually found were some large enclosure ditches that we thought might have been neolithic.

This necessitated a specific approach, because these types of enclosures are rare and we had to excavate for quite a while in order to obtain good samples. This led to a renegotiation over the time we could spend on site.
 

It was worth it as we also found the remains of a bronze age burial mound and an iron age settlement.