Monument record MDO18166 - Proposed new Damers First School site, Quarry Pit F802

One of two similar features found during the 2005 evaluation by AC archaeology of land to the west of Poundbury Cemetery, proposed for the site of the new Damers First School. Part of a large deep pit was found in the SW end of Trench 8. A single sherd of Romano-British pot was found in the upper fill. This feature is similar to other large pits found in the surrounding area, which have been interpreted as quarry pits of probable prehistoric date.

Found in the southern end of Trench 8 during the evaluation of a proposed new site for Damers First School to the west of Poundbury Cemetery, undertaken by AC archaeology in 2005 (1). This feature was picked up during a geophysical survey undertaken in advance of the evaluation (2).

Part of a large roughly sub-circular pit about 6m in diameter with moderately steeply sloping sides and a flat bottom 1.8m deep. It was filled with a pale brown silty clay soil similar to the overlying subsoil. A small quantity of worked flint and a single sherd of Romano-British pottery was found in the upper part of the fill.

The character and scale of this feature suggest it was a quarry pit of probable prehistoric date. A number of similar features have been found in the surrounding area.

<1> Robinson, S, 2005, Damers First School – Archaeological Investigations at Existing Site and at Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset: Results of Archaeological Trench Investigations (Unpublished document). SDO9483.

<2> Context One, 2005, Land to the rear of Damers First School, Damers Road and land to the west of Poundbury Cemetery, Dorchester, Dorset: An archaeological Geophysical Survey (Unpublished document). SDO9488.

Record last edited

Jun 12 2006 4:03AM