Vollgrav, leirebrudd eller «Stadzens Grop»? Brofundamentet vest for Saxegården. Gamlebyen, Oslo

Abstract

Excavation of the final plot of the F04 Klypen project. Previous excavations in the area revealed a large (8–15 m wide), medieval ditch to the north (Schia 1993) and to the south (Derrick 2018), interpreted as a possible moat for the keep next to the church of Saint Mary. Investigating this hypothesis was a main objective of the excavation. Main results: 1) The large trench continued as expected throughout the field. The major part ran NW–SE and was filled with stratified layers of decomposed rubbish, clay, and silt. The trench was dug in rectangular steps or terraces, merged into a single pit. Smashed pottery and trampled surfaces showed intense activity. Cross-dating finds dated the main infill securely to the last decades of the 13th century. Infill and possibly digging continued into the next century, with final deposits probably as late as 1350–1400.