EDO7921 - Replacement Water Main, Corfe Castle; observations and recording 2022

The archaeological monitoring consisted of watching the topsoil removal and trenching for three different stages of the groundworks: the topsoil strip of a compound area; the topsoil strip of the pipeline easement; the open cut excavation of the pipe trench, where necessary. The archaeological watching brief has demonstrated that a limited number of archaeological features and deposits survive along the route of the scheme, with a concentration of deposits broadly to the east and west. A number of features were recorded during the excavation of the pipe trench and comprise ditch-like features. Generally, these features are thought to be relatively modern in origin and denote agricultural activity or land division. In addition, a trackway was recorded which most likely served a former quarry. This is likely to date from the post-medieval period. Generally, these features do not provide any evidence for intensive activity, such as settlement, along the route of the scheme.