CLOSEGATE 2: CHARACTERISTICS OF GARDEN SOILS, MIDDEN DEPOSITS, LANDFILL AND BALLAST MATERIAL FROM CLOSEGATE 2, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

Author(s): M Jones, M McHugh, R Shiel

The physical, chemical and micromorphological characteristics of a number of postulated garden soils (14th, mid 17th and late 17th century) on Newcastle Quayside (adjacent to the Mansion House) were examined in order to ascertain their origins, their relationships to underlying materials and the use to which they were put. The 14th century soil had accumulated through the gradual dumping of a detrital soil over a charcoal and coal rich deposit. Plants had evidently been established for some time, though the soil appeared to have been contaminated by workshop associated activities and subsequent garden usage was thought to have been short-lived. The 17th century profiles had developed in dumped terrestrial soil and had been biologically (and pedologically) active for some considerable time suggesting fairly prolonged garden usage (particularly the later Mansion House soil). The 13th century landfill comprises 'ballast' stones, some of which appear to be far travelled. The material incorporated into the 14th century landfill comprises both midden wastes and mineral soils of a varied composition. It seems that the landfall comprises any material that simply came to hand.

Report Number:
59/1993
Series:
AML Reports (New Series)
Pages:
8
Keywords:
Soil/Sediment

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