EDO4023 - Land North of Middle Farm, Bridport Road, Dorchester; Evaluation Trench 45

In May 1997 Wessex Archaeology undertook an archaeological field evaluation in connection with proposed development of a parcel of land to the north of Middle Farm, Bridport Road, Dorchester. The evaluation site comprised an area of c. 2 hectares, and was investigated by 12 machine dug trenches (numbered 41-52) totalling 560 square metres or 2.8% of the evaluation area. A uniform sequence of deposits was recorded in all trenches. Topsoil to a maximum depth of 0.33m, sealed a fine brownish-yellow silty clay subsoil varying from 0.18-0.42m in depth. The subsoil sealed natural deposits of clay-with-flints. Trench 45 measured 30m x 1.6m, was aligned NE-SW in the E quadrant of the evaluation area, and excavated to a maximum depth of 1.07m. It was positioned to investigate a cropmark visible on aerial photographs. This proved not to be archaeological in origin. No archaeological features or deposits were found.