EDO8112 - Winterborne Kingston (WIBK) E2L5 11kV Pole Replacement Scheme, Snag Lane, Milborne St Andrew; observations and recording 2024

The AMR monitored the removal and replacement of one 11kV wooden electricity pole as part of a wider scheme to deliver a more reliable, essential and secure electricity supply. Groundworks comprised the excavation of slit trench measuring 3.40 m long, 0.75 m wide and 1.80 m deep to enable the removal of the electricity pole and installation of a block to which the replacement pole was secured. The slit trench was then backfilled using the excavated materials in the order in which they were removed. The attending archaeologist monitored all mechanical excavations within the specified area. Where necessary, the surfaces of uncovered deposits were cleaned by hand to aid visual definition. Spoil from machine stripping and hand-excavated archaeological deposits was visually scanned for the purpose of finds retrieval. No archaeological features or deposits were present within the slit trench excavated to facilitate the replacement of the pole. Topsoil was found to seal geological deposits comprising superficial Head deposits, river terrace gravels and the natural chalk geology. Worked flint was recovered from the Head deposit (subsoil 102) which is largely undiagnostic and can only confidently be dated to the broad prehistoric period. It is noted, however, that the crude nature of the flint may be indicative of a Bronze Age date, in keeping with known activity within the area as demonstrated by the presence of a barrow of Bronze Age origin located to the south-west of the works. The lack of archaeological evidence is most probably due to the limited nature of the groundworks, which were designed to be of minimal impact, as opposed to a genuine reflection of the archaeological potential of the Scheduled Monument.