Monument record MDO21889 - Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age occupation, Milldown Middle School, Blandford Forum

Excavation by AC Archaeology in 2009 revealed pits and ditches containing beaker pottery and suggesting the presence of a late neolithic/early Bronze Age settlement.

A possible Ring ditch was excavated during an archaeological evaluation, undertaken by AC Archaeology in advance of the proposed construction of new school buildings at Milldown School, Blandford. <1>

Subsequent excavation in 2009 demonstrated that the ring ditch did not exist. However there was evidence for a late neolithic or early Bronze Age settlement site in the form of pits and ditches containing beaker pottery. <2>

Whelan, J and Massey, R, 2015, Former Milldown School, Blandford Forum, Dorset. Archaeological Excavation (Unpublished document). SDO16756.

Whelan, J and Massey, R, 2016, Former Milldown School, Blandford Forum, Dorset. Archaeological Publication Report. (Unpublished document). SDO15577.

<1> Whelan, J, 2008, Results of an archaeological evaluation at Milldown Middle School, Blandford Forum, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO11369.

<2> Whelan, J, 2014, Former Milldown School, Blandford Forum, Dorset. Archaeological Evaluation. (Unpublished document). SDO14491.

‘From the evidence of the evaluation trenches it is certain the site contains areas of archaeology of prehistoric date that have survived the construction and subsequent demolition of the former Milldown School buildings. The dates appear to centre on Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age occupation with later Late Iron Age Early Romano-British pottery also represented in the finds assemblage. The well dated Late Neolithic activity identified in the earlier evaluation … was not traced any further during the current evaluation, suggesting that this activity is very much focussed at the western extent of the former playing field. The activity identified in Trench 1 in the south-east corner of the Site, is likely to be of
Late Iron Age/early Romano British date and again this activity is tightly focussed in that part of the Site. The activity identified on the higher ground, largely centred on Trenches 5, 6, 8 and 9, is likely to be prehistoric, but cannot be more closely dated at this stage.’

Record last edited

Nov 7 2017 12:09PM