SDO11407 - An Archaeological Field Evaluation on the Site of a Proposed Industrial Development of Land at Lower Blandford Heights, Blandford, Dorset

The archaeological evaluation of land at Lower Blandford Heights Industrial Estate, Blandford, Dorset comprised the machine excavation of six trenches, amounting to a 2% sample of the available area. The land was until recently used as allotments, and the documentary evidence has shown there has been no settlement on the site from the mid 16th century onwards. The Blandford and Pimperne parish boundary forms the NW boundary of the site, and is represented by a prominent bank and ditch. The evaluation failed to reveal archaeological deposits pre-dating the 19th century, and there was a total absence of pre-modern artefacts. A cross section through the parish boundary bank and ditch revealed that it has been entirely constructed using modern topsoil, and there were modern artefacts present at its lowest levels. It is therefore likely that the bank and ditch was constructed during the 20th century, when the land was used as allotments. It is considered that any development of this site is unlikely to disturb any significant archaeological remains.