Late Medieval Quarrying at Rear of 52 High Street, Somersham

On 5th November 2010, Oxford Archaeology East were commissioned to carry out an archaeological evaluation at the rear of 52 High Street, Somersham in the Huntingdonshire district of Cambridgeshire. The investigation consisted of an L-shaped trench measuring 21m in total in the footprint of a proposed residential development.
The evaluation revealed what appears to be evidence of quarrying dating to the late medieval period. The archaeology was recorded at a depth of between 1.68 and 2.20m from the current ground surface. It was considered unsafe to fully investigate at this depth and unlikely to be impacted upon by the proposed bungalow foundations and therefore protected in-situ.
A small assemblage of pottery was retrieved from the top fill of the pit which dates to between 1500-1650. This confirms the presence of late medieval quarrying activity which has also been recorded at other locations within the village.