Monument record MDO1653 - Pit north of Holywell Crossroads, Melbury Bubb

'Evaluation of Land Near Evershot and Stockwood, in advance of A37 Road Improvements. The evaluation of two areas adjacent to the A37 was carried out during October 1992 by mechanically-excavated transects. Area 1, comprising 6750m2 of land in pasture (centred on ST 5925 0487) north of Holywell crossroads, revealed a single prehistoric pit containing pottery, probably of Middle Bronze Age date, and a negative field lynchet. No finds or deposits were revealed in Area 2 (centred on ST 5830 0710), near Stockwood, which comprised 625 m2 of land in pasture. Area 2 is immediately adjacent to the former site of a 17th century cottage (RCHM, Dorset West Vol 1, Stockwood 5), show on the first edition OS map as Bucks Head. This derelict building is now known to have been demolished in the late 1950s during road widening.' {1}

'A37 Road Improvements, Evershot. Archaeological monitoring was carried out at four locations north of Eveshot.

Area A (centred on ST 59250489), involved the monitoring of topsoil stripping in an area where a prehistoric pit had been discovered during the initial evaluation (Cox, 1993 Dorset Proceedings, 114, 234). No additional archaeological features were identified in an area covering approximately 0.5 hectares.

Area B (centred on ST 599056), contained no features or finds of archaeological interest in an area of approximately 0.3 hectares.

Area C (centred on ST 5901805306), involved the excavation by hand of a 2m wide section across a low bank and ditch, which forms the historic boundary between the parishes of Melbury Sampford to the west and Melbury Bubb to the east. No dating evidence was recovered from sealed deposits, although fragments of 19th century pottery were recovered from the upper fill of the ditch.

Area D (Engineer's Tip centred on ST 59160570, and haul road ST 59100521 to ST 59120560). Topsoil removal of an area c. 2ha was monitored, with no archaeological features or finds observed.' {2}

Cox, P W, 1994, Archaeological Evaluation of Land North of Evershot, Dorset, in Advance of A37 Road Improvements. (Unpublished document). SDO12363.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1993, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1992, 234 (Serial). SDO92.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1994, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1993, 161 (Serial). SDO93.

Record last edited

Jan 22 2021 3:26PM