AOC Archaeology Group

AOC Archaeology have completed the post-excavation work for archaeological excavations at the Royal College of Art site, Battersea Bridge. The excavation was completed in advance of redevelopment works, on behalf of the Royal Academy of Art (http://www.rca.ac.uk/Default.aspx). The archaeological potential for the site is based on its proximity to the Thames foreshore: an attractive location for settlement from early prehistoric times. As such AOC Archaeology Group were commissioned by the Royal College of Art to complete an archaeological evaluation, followed by an excavation in May 2010. As the archaeological evidence for prehistoric and Romano-British occupation of this area of London remains scant, the results of the investigations provide a significant insight into the Iron Age land use and Iron Age to Romano-British transition within west London. 

Historically the site would have been located even closer to the Thames foreshore than it is today (the south bank is located approximately 100m north of the site). This area of London, during the prehistoric period would have been occupied by woodland and marshes on either side of the Thames.  Located towards a promontory jutting out into the Thames, the area would have attracted settlement because of access to resources and defense. High status artefacts, such as the Wandsworth and Battersea Iron Age Shields and numerous Iron Age swords, daggers and coins have been recovered from the Thames foreshore close to the site. The archaeological investigation revealed evidence of a small Late Iron Age (c 400BC – AD40/50) rural settlement with domesticated animals, pottery and cultivated crops and possible water management activity. Although not directly connected, the settlement activity recorded at the Royal College of Art Site, is broadly contemporary with the famous artefacts recovered from the Thames foreshore.

While the Roman city of Londinium was being formed in the second half of the first century AD, the site remained open country 8km to the south-west of the capital. ¬¬¬¬There is very little evidence of Roman settlement within Wandsworth, and no direct archaeological evidence within this part of Battersea. Thus, three Roman features found during the archaeological investigation provide an otherwise illusive insight into land use during the Romano-British period. The Roman pottery assemblage was of mid 1st to mid 2nd century date, with an implication of some continuity with the later Iron Age materials also recovered within the site. A sherd of Oxfordshire red-slipped ware also indicates activity within the area in the later Roman period. 

 

No evidence of early medieval activity was recorded within the site boundary and medieval occupation evidence was restricted to a few sherds of 10th-12th century pottery.  18th and 19th century building foundations and drainage works were recorded within the site in addition to evidence of Second World War bomb damage. 

An article has been submitted to the London Archaeologist journal. The full archive will be available from the London Archaeology Archive Resource Centre (LAARC) by October 2011 and the excavation report will be available on the ADS website (http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/).

However, for further information on this project please contact the Project Manager Melissa Melikian on 0208 8438730 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).