A rare chance to excavate land below the High Street has been given the go – ahead with the States archaeologist to look below the old Burton’s building for any evidence of medieval or Roman life.
Dr Phil de Jersey has been given permission to dig out a small trench in the basement of 34 and 36 the High Street, while the property is undergoing redevelopment work.
This trench will allow the archaeology team to closely inspect the soil which will provide them with a glimpse at what may have previously been there.
In a statement given to the Development and Planning Authority while it was considering approving alterations to the basement, the States Archaeologist said this was a “rare opportunity” to “investigate below ground levels alongside the High Street, where it is reasonable to assume that archaeological evidence of medieval and Roman settlement may survive”.
The DPA has said yes, the basement can be excavated – with the archaeology team now planning to dig out a 4m x 2m trench, about 500mm deep.
Once that has been done, a concrete floor will be created within the basement, with the stone walls underpinned, and lined in a plastic membrane.
The archaeology team said this would also be a good time to make a photographic record of the basement prior to any development taking place, with a particular focus on the elements that will later be blocked up, such as the timber shopfront shutters.
