Monument record MDO2400 - Fosters School, Tinney's Lane, Sherborne; Neolithic settlement site

An archaeological evaluation at the former Foster’s School, Tinney’s Lane has provided evidence for Neolithic activity over a large part of the east central area of the site. This comprises some features and occupation layers containing Peterborough ware pottery, suggesting a significant Neolithic settlement area. However, a subsequent open area excavation conducted by Exeter Archaeology only recorded six pits dating to the neolithic, one containing an infant burial. The site is predominantly characterised by Late Bronze Age pottery production and settlement.

None recorded

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological desk based assessment, earthwork and geophysical survey and trench evaluation during 1995 of land adjacent to the former Foster’s School, Tinney’s Lane, Sherborne [1]. This was followed by a further evaluation during 1995 [2]. an open area excavation on the same site was later conducted by Exeter Archaeology during the summer and autumn of 2002 [3].

The evaluation by ten machine trenches provided evidence for both Neolithic and middle Bronze Age activity over a large part of the east central area of the site. The range of evidence dating to the Neolithic, including large quantities of pottery, worked stone and animal bone (domestic artefacts) suggests that this represents a settlement site. The artefacts were recovered from a large number of pits, post-holes, a possible occupation surface and an occupation or midden layer within Trenches 5 and 7.It has been suggested that the settlement was deliberately positioned on a south facing slope close to the edge of the Yeo floodplain in order to exploit both wild and domestic resources.

The density of excavated features in the evaluation trenches, and the results of the geophysical survey suggested that further significant evidence of settlement activity existed between the trenches [1]. A second stage of evaluation was subsequently carried out in order to clarify the extent and density of activity. This produced no further prehistoric deposits suggesting that the area of settlement was relatively restricted [2].

Exeter Archaeology subsequently conducted a large scale excavation on the settlement site. The only evidence for neolithic activity was six pits in the eastern part of the site. One of these; pit [1029], contained an infant inhumation. The site was demonstrated to be predominantly a Late Bronze Age settlement and pottery production site [3]. The area has since been developed for housing and playing fields.

<1> Valentin, J , Chandler, J and Geophysical Surveys of Bradford, 1995, The archaeological assessment and evaluation of land adjacent to the former Foster’s School, Tinney’s Lane, Sherborne, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO10359.

<2> Valentin, J, 1995, Further archaeological evaluation of land adjacent to the former Foster’s School, Tinney’s Lane, Sherborne, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO10361.

<3> Best, J, 2008, A Late Bronze Age Pottery Production Site and Settlement at Foster's Field, Tinney's Lane, Sherborne, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO10587.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1996, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1995, 125-6 (Serial). SDO95.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 109338 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 16 2022 3:54PM