ARCHAEOLOGISTS digging up Dolphin Court car park with a digger say they have found medieval rubbish near a bin store.
The Southampton Archaeology team began a week of excavations in the car park on Monday, December 3.
The medieval refuse was found between Marks and Spencer and the bin store in the car park
A spokesman said: “The last pit we dug was almost on St Peter’s Road, and there may have been medieval gardens there – but that’s all we found. It’s been really awkward digging, as there are live drains, and electricity cables, to look out for. But fortunately we avoided them all – and, of course, the car park was in use, so we had to cope with vehicles coming and going.
Letters to the editor: We allow our country to fester in rubbish
VIDEO: Hefty sentence for supervisor of Horndean "gun factory" that fed London gangs
Toilet talk as Petersfield Town Council shows interest in asset transfer
Cracking up: Frustrated Petersfield councillor blames government for pothole woes“It wasn’t the easiest job we’ve done, but it all went well.”
The work saw trenches and four pits dug in the car park, all of which will be re-surfaced before Christmas.
The excavations come after South Downs National Park Authority approved plans for three three-storey buildings in the car park this year, made up of 15 first and second storey flats, with shops or parking below.
One of the blocks will be joined to the existing Dolphin Court flats overlooking Dragon Street, and involve demolishing garages in the car park so the new shops can open on to Dragon Street.
The wall that separates the garages from Dragon Street will be demolished, and the town mosiac set in it will be removed and replaced elsewhere.
The other two blocks will be in the centre of the car park, creating a courtyard with trees and seats. No date has been announced yet for building work to start in the car park.