THE SITE OF THE FORMER BRETONSIDE BUS STATION, PLYMOUTH, DEVON RESULTS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING

The results of archaeological monitoring carried out by South West Archaeology Ltd. at Bretonside bus station, Plymouth, Devon. The site is located in an area of high archaeological potential with prehistoric and medieval activity identified in the immediate vicinity. The site was believed to been subject to significant truncation and landscaping in the 20th century. The archaeological monitoring identified a total of 28 features, all post-medieval or modern in date and largely relating to the urban development of the area; but including seven graves which formed part of a known Quaker burial ground. Of these, two contained human remains, both filled graves had cut through earlier burials, and some additional disarticulated bones were recovered. One of the burials was contained within a lead coffin and could be identified as Elizabeth Cookworthy, died 1833. The remains have since been re-interred at Efford Cemetery, Plymouth. Few of the features produced dating evidence, those that did being the graves and grave robber cuts. These contained largely 18th-19th century and other post-medieval artefacts but also rubble material demonstrating that the graves had largely been cleared, probably in the 1950s when the bus station was created. A small assemblage of medieval fabrics and a single flint flake were also recovered from these 18th-19th century features.