Roman and Medieval Archaeology At Kettle's Yard, Cambridge

Two trenches revealed a core of activity from the second-fourth century and the twelfth-fourteenth century, in which five main phases were identified. The first, dated to the second century, comprised two wells and a possible quarrying hollow, all set upon and above hillside terracing. A significant quantity of structural debris, including decorated daub, was recovered from one of the wells, as well as five near-complete vessels also. Second to third century activity of Phase II was of another series of pits associated with a well and possibly a rammed floor excavated in a previous investigation adjacent to the project area. The line of the hill's walled defences (Phase III) was traced by a substantial Medieval robbing episode (Phase IV), with subsequent nearby occupation (Phase V) evinced by pits of a similar date. Amongst the importance of the investigation is the degree that it attests to the distinctly civic status of Castle Hill during the Romano-British era