EDO6954 - Park Farm, Gillingham; evaluation 2019

Archaeological investigations, consisting of the machine-excavation of seventy-five trenches, on land at Park Farm, Gillingham, Dorset were undertaken by AC archaeology Ltd during October/ November 2018. The investigation was undertaken in support of a future planning application for the construction of a new housing development and primary school, with associated infrastructure and recreational use. The application area has been subject to a previous Historic Environment Assessment and Magnetometer Survey. Of the trenches excavated across the site, nine revealed evidence for archaeological activity comprising late Iron Age and Romano-British deposits and cut features, spanning the period 1st century BC through to the 4th century AD. The deposits were present in the central and northern extent of the application area. Two trenches were extended (Trs 36 and 51) and a further four contingency trenches excavated as a result of the archaeological deposits encountered in both areas. A further trench (Tr 76) was excavated to investigate the presence of a possible earthwork which on investigation appeared naturally formed. With the exception of a single linear feature revealed in three of the trenches (Trs 78 - 80) and recorded on the geophysical survey as part of a modern sewer / drain system, none of the archaeological activity on the site was evident on the geophysical survey results.