Large area excavations in urban areas are extremely rare, as the cost of development and the phrase preservation of archaeological remains in situ (now preservation of significance through foundation design) render such luxuries uneconomic, even in areas of premium land prices like central London. Since the introduction of PPG16 and the enshrining of preservation in situ in planning guidance, archaeologists have studied, argued and discussed the practicalities and realities of preservation in situ through conferences, guidance and HELM training courses. The general conclusions of these studies have exposed the numerous flaws in the principle of “preservation in situ”, and they are correct to do so. However, the nature of development is such that preservation of significance through foundation design is here to stay, and with pressure to increase construction and growth (particularly on brown field sites) from central government, this is unlikely to change. It is comforting, therefore, to read a publication that demonstrates just how much information can be extracted by limited excavations in an urban area when treated systematically and intelligently, as it is in this volume.
The excavations build on the work of Geoff Egan (Swan Lane, currently unpublished), John Schofield (Seal House, currently unpublished) and Gustav Milne (1992 and references therein), and comprise 18 excavated pile locations and five areas of monitoring (one former basement and four further pile locations). The excavations revealed a sequence of timber (and occasionally stone) waterfronts dating from the Roman period to the 15th century, tying in to those recorded by Egan and Schofield at Swan Lane and Seal House. In almost all cases, the character of the waterfront quaysides are characterised, and document the development of timber quayside development from the early 12th century to the 15th century. This is a particularly interesting period in timber working, as it encompasses the transition from treewrightry to carpentry in the late 12th and early 13th century. Outside of St Andrew’s church at Greensted, the only surviving examples of treewrightry come from preserved remains such as those at Riverbank House, so the preservation of parts of five different 12th century quaysides constitutes a valuable corpus of material. Analysis and illustration of the timberwork of all periods is included, with both as excavated and interpreted “as built” drawings that clearly show the development of woodworking across the site.
As one would expect from excavations on the waterfront of England’s most important medieval port, the artefact assemblage at this site is spectacular, and is clearly described and, more importantly, well-illustrated. Artefacts that stand out include a spectacular lead panel dedicated to the life of Thomas of Lancaster and an antler nut from a crossbow, among the less rare, but still impressive collection of ampullae, pilgrim badges, tools, clothing and accessories and pottery.
The book is able to draw realistic conclusions about activity across the site, based on an intelligent integration of the excavation evidence, environmental analysis, documentary research and findings from adjacent sites. Those conclusions, as stated above, show just exactly what is possible through mitigation measures that might be considered less than ideal in archaeological terms.
References
- Milne, G (1992) Timber Building techniques in London c. 900 – 1400 London: London and Middlesex Archaeological Society Special Paper 15