Find Spot record MDO6895 - Fossil tree, Fleetsbridge Roundabout, Poole

A fossilised tree was found 'at depth' during the construction of Fleetsbridge roundabout and flyover. It was not recovered or sampled. It may be from a drowned forest following sea level rise after the last ice age.

When the Fleetsbridge flyover and roundabout (SZ 010 932) was constructed c. 1980 Mr I P Horsey Archaeological Officer for Poole Borough was invited by the construction staff to examine the site. Mr Horsey reported to the author that a fossilised tree had been found at some depth in a construction hol. It was too large to recover and does not seem to hav been sampled. No further information is available although observations of this type are normally recorded as PMO observations at Poole Museums.

It might be possible to relocate the site by excavation or find construction workers who remember the event. One suspects it may be a drowned forest probably relating to the rise in sea level after the last ice age c 8000 BC.

Observations in the Upton House area (SZ0093) of a pipe trench c 1986 revealed that the geology of the North Holes Bay area was a single layer of grey clay c 4m thich which changed near the surface to yellow (oxidised?) with orange (presumably iron staining) patches.

In 1998 diver Mr Kellaway retrieved a sample of fossilized wood found loose on the harbour bed in Poole Harbour. This sample may still exist if required for sampling although its in situ provenance is not known. [note (undated) from Keith Jarvis, Poole Museum]

DCC SMR, to 2003, Former DCC SMR Card Index (Index). SWX8285.

Record last edited

Dec 2 2019 2:23PM