EDO7610 - The Moors at Arne; evaluation 2020 to 2021

OASIS: Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake an archaeological evaluation and geoarchaeological deposit model of a 188 ha parcel of land located off Arne Road, Wareham, Dorset. The investigation is part of a programme of ongoing investigations associated with the Poole Harbour Habitat Creation Project. The evaluation provides results refine the understanding of the presence, nature and distribution of Quaternary superficial deposits, palaeoenvironmental sequences and archaeological features across the development area. It was confirmed that the base of the peat formed during the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, highlighting the potential for early archaeological remains. Indeed, a single flake of Portland Chert of Mesolithic/Neolithic date suggests a background of early activity, despite a lack of features dating earlier than the Iron Age. A ditch indicating a possible trackway containing exclusively late Iron Age pottery was recorded in the north-eastern corner of the Moors. Late Iron Age/Romano-British ring gullies, ditches and pits comprised the majority of recorded features with concentrations in the western half of the scheme (Fields 5 and 7) and on high ground in the north-east (Field 19). The pottery assemblage recovered is indicative of activity from the Late Iron Age extending up until the late 2nd or early 3rd century. Post medieval field ditches, drainage ditches and sea-wall earthwork were also revealed, with the majority correlating to boundaries depicted on historic mapping. Peat cutting activity was also observed across the low lying area of the moors, though no dates for this activity are currently available, OSL samples have been taken.