The use of the Upper Rock in medieval times

The Upper Rock must have been an important source of resources in medieval times; it certainly was a source of firewood, and pasture for some herds of goats. Caves such as Bray’s or Martin’s, were used by goatherds as a shelter as evidenced by the many interesting archaeological remains found inside them from the 14th and 15th centuries. At Bray’s we recorded the presence of fire and the consumption of juvenile goats. Among the items that stand out are ceramic pots and pans, as well as a portable stove known as an ‘anafre’, which would have served as a cooker inside the cave. We also recorded two items relating to religious activities: as a set of jet Islamic prayer beads decorated with concentric circles, and a small water jug with an incomplete inscription which partly reads “li-‘abd” or “li-‘abdu-hu” that translates as “for his servant…”.

During the construction of the multi-storey parking facility at Willis’s Road, a series of soundings and an archaeological survey were carried out. An assemblage of medieval (14th and 15th centuries) ceramics, likely belonging to a goatherd, was unearthed.