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Dundee, 106-110 Nethergate

Pit (Medieval), Well(S) (Medieval), Unidentified Pottery

Site Name Dundee, 106-110 Nethergate

Classification Pit (Medieval), Well(S) (Medieval), Unidentified Pottery

Alternative Name(s) Dundee, 106 Nethergate

Canmore ID 137683

Site Number NO42NW 109

NGR NO 4019 2996

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/137683

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Dundee, City Of
  • Parish Dundee (Dundee, City Of)
  • Former Region Tayside
  • Former District City Of Dundee
  • Former County Angus

Activities

Archaeological Evaluation (December 1995)

An evaluation was carried out in December 1995 in advance of redevelopment at the former Green's Playhouse. This revealed surviving medieval deposits.

The proposed redevelopment of the site by Mecca Social Clubs after fire had destroyed the existing bingo hall and former playhouse in August 1995 provided the opportunity of undertaking an archaeological evaluation in the form of trial trenching over the main part of the cleared site. The site had been informally identified as a 'site of archaeological potential' where it is thought that archaeological remains could survive relatively undisturbed. The trial work was to be undertaken in two phases. Phase 1 … has examined the backlands, while the second phase will examine the frontage after dangerous buildings have been secured.

During the period 19th-20th December 1995 seven trenches 1m wide and of varying length were excavated over the backlands of the site… These were cleaned, recorded and then backfilled. The excavations revealed that archaeological evidence hyad been sealed by the former Green's Playhouse and in places had survived intact. The most significant remains and deposits found were at the northern end of the available area, and related to a late 18th century building near the site frontage, comprising deep backland garden soil containing a significant number of medieval pottery sherds, a boundary wall feature and sandy subsoil deposits also containing medieval pottery sherds.

The trial trenches revealed that 19th century development and the construction of Green's Playhouse have failed to entirely eradicate archaeological evidence relating to the medieval period. This survival appears to be greatest over the mid-part of the site which comprises the former garden area to the south of the University Club. From the garden soil and subsoil, about 1m in depth, a limited but important medieval pottery assemblage was recovered. It can be anticipated that other medieval features such as boundaries and perhaps small buildings would underlie the garden soil. Other, more shallow subsoil deposits containing evidence of medieval occupation, survived to the south of the garden area fairly close to Yeaman Shore.

Scottish Urban Archaeological Trust. 1996. Archaeological Trial Excavations at Former Green's Playhouse Site, 106-110 Nethergate, Dundee: Phase 1 Results.

Excavation (May 1996 - June 1996)

NO 4019 2996 An evaluation was carried out in December 1995 in advance of redevelopment at the former Green's Playhouse. This revealed surviving medieval deposits. An excavation followed in May and June 1996 and revealed evidence spanning some 600-700 years to the present day, representing six phases of activity.

Cut into an undisturbed raised beach deposit, the earliest evidence comprised a heavily disturbed stone-built well and four rubbish pits. Pottery sherds indicate a date of c late 13th/early 14th century for this activity. The well and pits were sealed by a buried garden soil from which a significant assemblage of medieval pottery was recovered. The pottery implies a high status for the occupants of the nearby Nethergate (formerly Flukergate) frontage. Included are a number of high-quality imported pottery wares from the Low Countries, France and Germany. Most notably, one sherd of Saintonge ware and two

sherds of Valencian Lustreware were found, both of which are rare finds in Scotland. The pottery indicates that the site was clearly being utilised some 100-200 years earlier than previously thought of this part of the burgh. Animal bone and finds were also recovered, and samples were also taken of suitable deposits for environmental analysis.

Cut through the medieval garden soil was a second well, of similar build to the first. This feature was sealed below a second garden soil, dated by pottery and finds to the 17th/18th centuries. Cut through this second garden soil were the remnants a 19th-century building and associated drainage, identified as the University Staff Club. The foundations of two property boundary walls, also marked on 19th-century plans, were also uncovered.

These structures were demolished in the early 20th century and Green's Playhouse was constructed in the 1930s. The evidence from these excavations has clearly demonstrated that more of Dundee's archaeology survives than was previously thought.

Sponsor: Top Rank Mecca Ltd.

J R Mackenzie and D Hall 1996

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