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Largely relating to the collegiate phase, a moderately sized finds assemblage was recovered during the recent investigations and which comprises metalwork, pottery, glass, clay tobacco pipe, worked bone, worked stone, ceramic building materials and moulded stone); the site’s economic data (i.e. animal bone) is presented upon thereafter.

Some 97 pieces of metalwork, weighing 2084g, were recovered during excavation at Jesus College as part of the refurbishment programme of Chapel Court, and include respectively eight each copper alloy and lead objects, the remainder consisting of iron. Only diagnostic items are described below, the vast majority of the ironwork being undiagnostic and all in a poorly
preserved condition.

This small assemblage from Chapel Court is largely unremarkable, fragmentary and undiagnostic. That a significant proportion of the assemblage was recovered from disturbed and unstratified contexts also attests to the degree of local disturbance that would be expected from a building that has witnessed prolonged use and modifications. Despite the seemingly poor quality of the assemblage, however, two pieces of metalwork stand out. These are the lead stylus and Boy Bishop token. Both associated with religious foundations, the former attests to the degree and type of literacy within the former nunnery of St Rhadegund’s and the latter to celebrations either associated with Christmas or to quasi-commercial activity that took place during the annual fair held at the site (this fair subsequently became Garlic Fair, persisting into the 19th century). The date of these two items suggests they were connected to the nunnery, a view strengthened by the general location where they were found. As such, these items, and the later metalwork objects, provide evidence of the changing nature of the use of the site and of activities that took place within the courtyard, witnessing the transition from a religious foundation to the present day college.

Tr. 1: Several fragments from a heavily corroded and concreted spur c. 75mm wide, probably late 16th to 17th century in date, weighing 101g.

Tr. 2: Pair of corroded and concreted metalworking or smithing pliers. These tools were used in blacksmithing for the removal of nails from horseshoes, hot working and general craft activities (weight 229g, length c. 150mm); found with several square cross- sectioned nails and fragment of a horseshoe (weight 68g and tending to the large, Shire horse size of shoe). Although somewhat corroded these are most likely post-Medieval in date, but provide on-site evidence of metalworking and or smithing.

A total of 627 sherds of pottery (12.7kg) were recovered during the recent investigations conducted at Jesus College. The following discussion of this assemblage has been divided into two sections; the first details the material that was recovered from stratified contexts, and the second the unstratified sherds that were recovered from Trenches 1 and 2.

A total of 359 sherds (7265g) were recovered from unstratified deposits encountered in Trenches 1 and 2. This represents 57.3% of the total assemblage by count, and 57.4% by weight. As Table 2 demonstrates, a very similar range of fabrics are represented as were recovered from the stratified deposits discussed above. No vessels of inherent significance were identified.

The range of material recovered, which was dominated by post- Medieval wares, is broadly typical of assemblages derived from the Cambridge region generally (see Edwards & Hall 1997). No vessels of inherent significance were identified, and the quantity of stratified material was relatively low. Nevertheless, the group is of some significance because to date only a small number of comparable assemblages have been recovered from secure collegiate contexts in Cambridge. In association with the assemblage recovered from the College Library excavations (Evans 1995b), it compliments the material that has previously been recovered from late 16th and early 17th deposits associated with Trinity College’s kitchens (Newman in prep.), from 16th century pits at Gonville & Caius College (Alexander 1995) and from an early 17th century pit group at Pembroke College (Hall 2002), and provides an important contrast with the much more extensive domestic assemblages that are known from the town.

K: Two refitting fragments from a cast-iron object with a central perforation. Heavily concreted and poorly preserved these weigh 227g with the perforation c. 13.6mm in diameter. Probably from an architectural feature, such as a fireplace, these are post- Medieval in origin.

T: Broken and very poorly preserved possible snaffle or bridle bit. The central bar is largely intact, but missing one end and associated loop (surviving length c. 120mm). The other loop is broken; weight 123g. Undated.

(lower level interface with [017]), F.18: a mixed context. This contained two sherds of 16th/17th century Frechen Stoneware (87g) and a sherd of 13th to 15th century grey coarseware (9g).

F.16: a mixed context. This contained a sherd of 13th to 15th century grey coarseware (21g), and a sherd of 16th to 17th century German stoneware (45g).

F.41: an 18th century context. This contained a sherd of creamware (11g), two sherds of white-dipped Staffordshire salt-glazed stoneware (16g), a sherd of plain red coarseware (191g), plus two residual sherds of 16th to 17th century Babylon-type lead- glazed earthenware (2g) and two sherds of 16th to 17th century German stoneware (4g).

F.32: a 17th or early 18th century context. This contained two sherds of tin-glazed earthenware (9g), a sherd of Babylon-type lead-glazed earthenware (42g), two sherds of German stoneware (46g), a sherd of glazed red earthenware (30g) and a sherd of Westerwald stoneware (14g).

F.33: a 16th or 17th century context. This contained three fragments of green-glazed fineware, one of which represents a small but substantially complete two handled jug of unusual design (86g – not manufactured at Ely) and another a rim fragment of pierced fretwork form (8g). Also present were 18 sherds of Frechen stoneware, weighing 1102g and representing a minimum of three vessels, plus a single sherd of Seigburg stoneware (41g) and four sherds of Babylon-type lead-glazed earthenware (61g), one of which bears embossed decoration in the form of a face. Finally, two sherds of plain red coarseware (51g), and two residual sherds of 13th to 15th century grey coarseware (40g) were also recovered.

F.33: a 16th or 17th century context. This contained two sherds of Broad Street-type green-glazed fineware (230g), a sherd of Babylon-type lead-glazed earthenware (9g), a sherd of glazed red earthenware (14g) and two sherds of plain red coarseware (30g).

F.20: this contained a sherd of Essex red ware (8g), which is late 13th to 15th century in date with a 15th century floruit.

A total of 359 sherds (7265g) were recovered from unstratified deposits encountered in Trenches 1 and 2. This represents 57.3% of the total assemblage by count, and 57.4% by weight. As Table 2 demonstrates, a very similar range of fabrics are represented as were recovered from the stratified deposits discussed above. No vessels of inherent significance were identified.