EDO6274 - Bickham Farm, Pamphill; watching brief 2009

Archaeological watching briefs during habitat enhancement works on the River Stour at Eye Mead and the River Allen at Bickham Farm. Work at Bickham Farm commenced with the excavation of the north-west corner of the scrape nearest the River Allen. The topsoil was found to be 0.3-0.4, deep overlying an alluvial silty/clay subsoil. The excavation was carried out using a 13 tonne, 360 degree excavator and the spoil removed from the site by tractor up the steep slope to the south-west. The scrape was excavated to a depth of 0.3 to 0.5 m. Finds were restricted to the topsoil, but were very infrequent, including small pieces of brick & tile, glass, pottery, clay pipe and oyster shell, probably all of 19th century date. Three fresh and unpatinated pieces of worked flint ( small single platform core, an irregular scrapper and a squat flake) were also found in the topsoil, probably of later Neolithic or early Bronze Age. These are consistent with similar finds in the immediately adjacent area.