EDO6542 - Land north of Blandford Hill Road, Milborne St Andrew; evaluation 2018

An evaluation consisting of the machine excavation of ten trenches, a 2% sample of the approximately 2.7ha site. Numerous archaeological features were revealed, most in the northern and eastern parts of the site, and close to activity recorded at Milborne Business Park to the east. A large ditch [203] recorded in Trench 2 was thought likely to be a continuation of this activity, as was a similar ditch [103] perhaps a continuation of the first, and marking the edge of occupation. Dating evidence from these features was limited but suggested an Early to Middle Bronze Age date, while the adjacent activity had been dated to the Iron Age/Romano-British period; the earlier material was abraded and therefore possibly residual. A group of postholes was recorded in Trench 6, possibly relating to a pit [703]. These features were thought likely to be Iron Age/Romano-British, though dating evidence was limited. The excavators noted that the postholes had not been apparent as anomalies in geophysical survey carried out earlier, so similar features may extend across the site, a continuation of the activity recorded to the east.