SDO10370 - An archaeological evaluation of the proposed development of land south of Tinney’s Lane, Sherborne, Dorset

In April 1996 an archaeological evaluation was carried out on a proposed development site south of Tinney's Lane, Sherborne. Over 2% of the proposed development site was assessed by machine dug evaluation trenches, this totals an 130m2 area. In general the evaluation suggested that the site was largely unaffected by modern disturbance, and that archaeological levels, though dispersed and discontinuous, did exist and were well preserved. Trenching in the northeastern part of the site revealed evidence of extensive Medieval quarrying, and a large ditch containing Roman pottery was discovered. In the middle of the site a human "crouched burial" was found, almost certainly of prehistoric date, and possibly contemporaneous with a nearby find of Bronze Age pottery. Other undated features of interest were observed. The southern part of the site produced less of significance in the trenches than the rest of the proposed development area. The south-east had been severely truncated by post-Medieval terracing and the south west, although retaining a comparatively undisturbed soil profile, appeared to be of limited archaeological interest. The summary of finds recorded includes Romano-British pottery fragments, 3 sherds of undatable Black Burnished Ware, a single rimsherd of shell-tempered pottery (Later Bronze Age - early Iron Age), fragmentary Medieval pottery - of which 50% is glazed - and a single fragmented lava stone from Trench 1. Its occurrence in the Romano-British period is not widely recorded.