EDO8326 - North Fossil Farm, Winfrith Newburgh (Phase 2); auger survey 2023

The geoarchaeological survey (Phase 1) comprised the assessment of thirty auger locations, distributed evenly along three transects to map the extent and depth of the peat within the northern field of the site. The intervals between the locations in the western transect (Transect 1) were approx. 15m and the central (Transect 2) and eastern (Transect 3) were spaced approx. in 30m intervals. A total number of two boreholes (31 and 32) were drilled during the geoarchaeological survey (Phase 2). The boreholes were advanced using an Atlas Cobra TT petrolpowered hammer driving Eijkelkamp gouge and core sampling heads. The fieldwork was conducted by Keith Wilkinson (ARCA, University of Winchester) assisted by Agata Kowalska (CA). Two continuous cores (Borehole 31) of 50mm diameter and 1000m length were recovered, assessed and subsampled in Andover office. Borehole 32 was left undisturbed for any potential supplementary sampling. Project Results: In December 2022 (phase 1) and March 2023 (phase 2), Cotswold Archaeology carried out a geoarchaeological auger survey at North Fossil Farm, Winfrith Newburgh, Dorset. A total of 30 auger locations in three north/south transects were assessed in phase 1, and two boreholes targeting the deep organic sequence within a potential palaeochannel in phase 2. The geoarchaeological survey identified a possible palaeochannel filled with channels sands, organic mud and minerogenic. The organic mud and alluvium likely formed in a floodplain environment. The presence of the of the potential palaeochannel and the LiDAR map suggest that the area was dominated by wetlands (heathlands) divided by streams and small rivers within the catchment of River Frome. The area was seasonally flooded making it unsuitable for settlements or cultivation.