EDO5635 - Osprey Quay, Portland; observations and recording 2002

Terrain Archaeology were contracted to carry out an archaeological watching brief by the South West of England Regional Development Agency. This was during construction of new drains as part of the Osprey Quay development on Portland. Groundworks consisted of two trenches (1 and 2) which were excavated using a mechanical excavator. Trench 1 was oriented roughly northwest-southeast and measured about 12m by 1.5-3m across and about 1.9m deep. Inside a deposit in this trench, two large ashlar limestone blocks were recorded. A number of other blocks were excavted and removed, then examined on the spoil heap. Six blocks were visible in total, one of which was a piece of column shaft 1.08m long and 0.41m in diameter. A large letter E was chiselled into one end. Trench 2 was a complex L-shape, measuring 25m by 7.5m, and was up to 3.4m deep.