EDO5192 - Land to the Rear of Clarendon Road, Christchurch; evaluation Trench 7

Wessex Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation of land immediately north of Christchurch Railway Station during 2006 in advance of re-development of the site. Nine trenches were excavated, eight of which contained only modern features or none at all. Trench 5 contained an isolated undated shallow pit containing no finds within its fill. A raised terrace along the northern edge of the site and land at the western end of the site remain largely undisturbed. These areas have been further protected by the dumping of c. 0.5m of topsoil. However, the lack of finds identified during this evaluation suggests that the liklehood of archaeological remains existing here is low. The lower part of the site has been truncated onto or below the natural gravels. Trench 7 was divided into two parts, 7 and 7A. Trench 7 was aligned approximately E-W, 10.8m long, 1.6m wide and excavated to a maximum depth of 0.4m. 0.25m of redeposited overburden directly overlay natural gravel. No archaeological finds or features were recorded. Trench 7A was aligned ENE-WSW, measured 11m long, 1.6m wide and was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.48m. 0.11m of re-deposited overburden directly overly natural gravel. Areas of recent disturbance were evident in the upper surface of the natural gravel. No archaeological finds or features were recorded.