New College The Avenue Southampton

In February 2007 Oxford Archaeology (OA) carried out a field evaluation
at New College, The Avenue (NGR SU 419 130), Southampton, Hampshire
on behalf of Linden Homes Southern Limited.
The evaluation comprised of 12 trenches totalling 240 m in length. Within
Trench 12, located near to the south east corner of the site, a single
undated pit (possibly of Iron Age/Roman date) was revealed containing
evidence for smithing, probably derived from such activity nearby. A
posthole from Trench 10 to the north-west of Trench 12 contained late
Iron Age/early Roman pottery and fragments of burnt flint. Other features
revealed by the evaluation including stakeholes, postholes and plough
scars are likely to relate to post-medieval activity, either when the site was
agricultural land or from its development from the 19th century.
Addendum 12/09/07
OA returned to site on 11/09/07 in accordance with a condition attached to
planning permission by the Southampton City Council Archaeologist.
The condition states
“Planning application 07/01060/OUT:Former New College, The Avenue=
the new science block (my ref. 6713).C11 condition. The site roughly
coincides with evaluation trench 11. While the excavator identfied one
feature within it as a ”probable tree throw”, I feel that it had the
appearance of a lined pit and that more work is justified in this area to
clarify matters. A single archaeological trench, along the line of the north
wall of the science block should therefore be excavated”.
The archaeological trench was excavated adjacent to Trench 11.
Subsequent to re-investigation and exposure of the entire feature, it was
agreed by the City Archaeologist that the initial interpretation of the a tree
throw is still valid and no further work is required here. An additional area
of trenching related to the recent investigation is illustrated in Fig.2 and
Fig.9 in this updated report.During January 2008 Oxford Archaeology (OA) carried out a field
investigation at New College, The Avenue, Southampton, Hampshire
(NGR SU 419 130) on behalf of Linden Homes Southern Limited. No finds
of archaeological interest were encountered.