EDO4834 - Thomas Hardye School, Coburg Road, Dorchester; evaluation 1994 (Trench 1)

Wessex Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation within the grounds of Thomas Hardye School, Coburg Road, Dorchester during early April 1994. The work was conducted on behalf of Dorset County Council in advance of the construction of an extension to West Dorset Leisure Centre. Four machine cut trenches were excavated, covering an area of 128 sq. m, a 2.6% sample of the development area. These revealed a small number of archaeological features, including postholes, ditches and hearths, cut directly into natural chalk, with some truncation by deep modern disturbances. Although not directly dated, similarities in form and distribution to evidence from larger sites at Middle Farm and Dorchester Rugby Ground suggest that these features are of mid to Late Bronze Age date. (c. 1580-750 BC). Each trench measured 20m x 1.6m. Trench 1 was aligned E-W at the north end of the development site. A single post-hole was revealed in the centre of it; 0.7m in diameter and 0.3m deep with a well rounded profile, it contained fragments of worn animal bone at the base of its yellowish-brown silty loam fill but no other artefacts.