Monument record IPS 462 - 16th century pit and animal remains assemblage, Coytes Gardens/Friars Street, Ipswich.

2004: A large pit, very regular in shape with sheer sides, right angled corners and a flat base was recorded during an archaeological monitoring. Large number of ceramic sherds and animal bone were recovered. The pottery represented six vessels including redware, red earthenware, and stoneware. The assemblage likely dates from the 16th century. The animal assemblage was predomnintly cattle metapodials with a minimum of twelve individual cattle present, including two juveniles and one sub-adult. Many of the metapodials exhibited cut marks, consistent with skinning. The other animals present include sheep and pig. It is possible that these bones could be primary butchering/skinning and possible tanning waste however the lack of other foot bones in this assemblage does cast some doubt over the tanning theory and may indicate that the metapodials in this collection had been collected from skinned animals and intended for use in bone working, possibly to produce skates, but never used for this purpose (S1).

See also (S2)