Site Event/Activity record ECH2843 - Excavations at Hunters Street School in 1981-1982 Phase 3 (Hunter Street/Princess Street)

Proposals for substantial redevelopment in the Hunter Street to Princess Street area for a bus depot and library led to major excavation's between 1978 and 1982. Sources for this work are primarily summary reports however. Archaeological investigations comprised a programme of works that included Hunter Street School in 1978 and 1979 (ECH2852); Hunters Walk in 1978 and 1979 (ECH5857). In 1980 there was a further phase of work at Hunters Walk (ECH2848) In 1981 work was carried out at Hunter Street School (ECH2843) Finally, there was a programme of watching briefs and emergency recording in the period 1981-1984 (ECH3239) Large-scale rescue excavation in the area then designated for the 'new bus exchange and County Library' was completed in 1982 (1). The site lies close to the centre of the legionary fortress, to the north of the elliptical building and to the north of the buildings traditionally described as the Praetorium. This excavation altered understanding of the layout of this part of the fortress. Obviously, Roman deposits and buildings were recorded, in addition to evidence of fourth century gold-working, Dark Age buildings and adjacent occupation deposits, a Saxon Grubenhaus, a fourteenth century pit containing organic material, a medieval corn-drying oven and post-medieval malting kilns (1).