Monument record MDO18284 - Land South-west of Poundbury Farm; Middle Bronze Age pits

Seven widely dispersed pits were revealed during the 2001 archaeological evaluation and 2005 excavation undertaken by Wessex Archaeology, in advance of development of a field to the south of Bridport Road and north and east of the By-pass. Four of the pits lay close to a Middle Bronze Age enclosure and are probably associated with this enclosure. The other pits were not associated with any known focus of activity. One pit contained Middle Bronze Age pottery and charred grain and may indicate another area of settlement close by. The other two small pits contained no significant finds.

Seven widely scattered pits of Middle Bronze Age date were revealed during the 2001 archaeological evaluation and the 2005 excavation undertaken by Wessex Archaeology, in advance of development of a field to the south of Bridport Road and north and east of the By-pass (1) (2) (3). These were found sparsely scattered across the whole of the site in evaluation Trenches 26, 58 and 60 and excavation Area 2. The numbers in square brackets are context numbers used in the reports (2) (3).

Four pits were found in excavation area 2, two to the west of the Middle Bronze Age enclosure and two to the north of a field boundary ditch to the southwest of the enclosure. Pit [183] and [118] lay to the west of the enclosure, and close to Structure [F206], but contained no datable material. Pits [132] and [180] lay immediately north of an E-W boundary ditch and also contained no datable material. However, given their location, it is likely that they are contemporary with the Middle Bronze Age settlement activity in this area (3).

The remainder of the pits were not close to any known area of activity. Pit 2604 in Trench 26 was an irregular rounded pit 0.66m across and 0.32m deep, with steep sides and an irregular base. It was filled with a mottled greyish-brown and orange silty clay with flint, with a greyish-brown silty clay with flint above. The fill was interpreted as possible backfill around a post with some flint packing. Pit 5804 in Trench 58 was circular in plan, 0.95m in diameter and 0.25m deep with moderately sloping sides and a concave base. It was filled with mid brown silty clay with frequent charcoal. No dating evidence was recovered, but a quantity of charred grain, chaff and weed seeds. Pit 6005 in Trench 60 was subcircular in plan, 1.2m across and 0.38m deep with steep sides and a flat base. It was filled with two layers, a mottled orange and greyish-brown silty clay with a greyish-brown silty clay above. A small quantity of grog-tempered Middle Bronze Age pottery was recovered from this pit. This pit was suggested by the excavators to be a post pit to hold a post. The widely dispersed pattern of these pits indicates that they are not part of a discrete activity area but are evidence of scattered activity of Middle Bronze Age date within the contemporary field system. The pit in Trench 58 may have been a small storage pit, perhaps indicating some settlement activity in the near vicinity.

<1> Gardiner, J, 2003, Dorchester, Land to the West and South-West of Poundbury Farm, 2000-2001. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeology Society, 154 (Article in serial). SDO9530.

<2> Dagless, N, 2001, Land to the West of Poundbury Farm, Dorchester, Dorset: Archaeological Excavation. (Unpublished document). SDO9532.

<3> Appleton, C, 2005, Poundbury Development, Phase II, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset. Archaeological Post-Excavation Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SDO9932.

Record last edited

Sep 29 2006 1:17AM