Monument record MDO3550 - Layer of burnt soil and flint, Blandford By-pass, Blandford Forum

A layer of burnt soil and flint was observed in a cutting in the east side of the road during a watching brief by Martin Green on the construction of the Blandford by-pass in 1985. The layer was composed mostly of well-burnt flint with some very fine black silt and large quantities of charcoal. The layer could not be dated, but similar deposits have been recorded in Cranborne Chase and other areas where they date from the Late Bronze Age, and are thought to have been formed during the 'trough' cooking of meat.

ST 8981 0700. A layer of burnt flint 20 cms wide and 15 m long was observed in a cutting for the Blandford By-pass. No datable objects recovered, but the material is similar to that often found in association with Bronze Age boiling mounds. <1>

Martin Green conducted an archaeological watching brief during groundworks for the construction of the Blandford Bypass in 1985.

Notably a continuous layer of burnt soil and flint was observed in a cutting in the east side of the road. The layer was up to 20cm thick and extended for 15m. No dating evidence was recovered, although a sample was submitted for seiving. The layer comprised predominately well burnt flint together with some very fine black silt and large quantities of charcoal. Similar deposits to this have been observed in Cranborne Chase and other areas where they date from the Late Bronze Age. They are thought to have been formed during the 'trough' cooking of meat.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1986, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1985, 153 (Serial). SDO85.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 888636 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 3 2022 1:56PM