reports: Canterbury Excavation Committee 1944 - Archaeologia Cantiana

DIGGING took place from September 18th until October 14th, 1944. During the first three weeks, four paid labourers were employed; and during the whole four weeks, including Saturday and Sunday afternoons, there were in addition an average number of at least five volunteers. The total number of volunteers who worked during the period was 84.
The site explored was situated between the blitzed ruins of St. George's Church and the fragment of the old city wall adjoining the site of St. George's Gate; the site was intersected by Burgate Lane which was not disturbed.
1. The portion West of Burgate Lane, formerly Martin's shop, had cellars 7ft. or 8ft. below modern road-level. Here several Roman pits were found and a gully which would seem to have been some sort of drain. The pits were filled with household rubbish, broken pottery, scraps of metal, a few coins, many oyster shells and animal bones (pig, ox, sheep or goat). The pottery types and coins range from the second

century onwards. Although no traces of buildings were found, it seems certain that there must have been houses in the near vicinity.
   2. The portion East of Burgate Lane, immediately adjacent to the city wall, was at modern road-level (i.e. no cellars). Here excavation was complicated by the discovery, at 2ft. below surface, of a wall of comparatively recent date in which were found scraps of mediæval pottery and a rare London farthing of Richard II. Digging continued to the base of the fragment of city wall but no Roman work was found; it therefore seems that the Roman wall here lay in front of (i.e. outside) the later wall.
   In addition, at Martyr's Field (Inhumation Cemetary No. 4 of Victoria County History) trial trenches were cut in the area to be used for the extension of Oxford Road, but no burials were found.
             MAJOR F. W. TOMLINSON, F.S.A.,
   Hon. Secretary, Canterbury Excavation Committee.

Council for British Archaeology

THIS body had its being in 1944 through the insistent need by representation of the Archaeological Societies and kindred interests for a greater appreciation of all

archaeological and correlated subjects from a national point of view in post-war reconstruction.