ASE front cover 3127 Dover Castle - Archaeology South-East

Archaeology South-EastDover Castle New Admissions Building13.0 SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS13.1 Dover Castle constitutes an important and complex multi-period site.The Medieval castle has undergone many phases of remodificationand development and is unusual in terms of its good preservation andthe existence of detailed documentary sources relating to it. However,the early history of the site is not so well understood.13.2 The location of the appraisal area, close to the core of the castle andwithin the vicinity of the 1960’s excavations (which produced evidenceof Iron Age, Saxon and early Norman archaeology) means that thedevelopment site may have the potential to shed light upon the earlyhistory of the site and context of the Norman castle. However, laterMedieval fortifications and Post Medieval landscaping are thought tohave significantly reduced the likely survival of earlier archaeologicalremains. The archaeological potential of the appraisal site is thereforeconsidered as:Early prehistoric: LowIron Age: Low.Roman: Low.Saxon: Low.Medieval: High.Post- Medieval: High.Modern: High.13.3 The conservation statement states that it should be assumed that allparts of the scheduled area are archeologically sensitive and grounddisturbance should be avoided. However, it also states that there are anumber of areas occupied by Victorian and other buildings where it isknown or suspected that the near surface archaeology has beendestroyed. The development area is included within this description(Coad 2004, 26).13.4 However, archaeological material is thought to survive within thedevelopment site. A backfilled section of the medieval encircling ditchis known to exist across the northern part of the appraisal area, andProfessor Biddle also encountered natural chalk at the southern end ofhis excavation trench at only 200mm below the current ground surface.This raises the possibility of deep archaeological features survivingbelow the level of mid nineteenth century terracing. There is also apossibility of features and deposits existing upon the southern drop ofthe old land surface which may survive below the southern edge of theterrace. The geotechnical work has suggested that a minimum of 4 mof redeposited chalk has been built up here._____________________________________________________________________25