One of the pre-conditions for applying for planning permission was an archaeological investigation of the building site. We did in fact know exactly what was there, but had to get professionals in to show us: the foundations of the early Victorian slums; a metre of garden soil, natural subsoil, and the top of the Gravel Terrace which forms the foundation of all Oxford. It was useful for the structurtal engineer to be certain of the exact depth of the Gravel Terrace, because that is a good solid well-drained foundation for our buildings.
Oh, and there was a circular pit cut into the gravel, below the subsoil. Not investigated to the bottom, 'cos it is deeper than we shall want to go, no dating material in the fill, but given that we are in a known Bronze Age ceremonial area with lots of barrows around the Henge Monument, the chances are it's a Bronze Age ritual pit. Possibly a burial. Anyway, it's all filled in now.
The next stage is the press conference before the actual Application.
