SDO11568 - Proposed New Dwellings at Cow Lane/Mill Lane, Wareham, Dorset; Results of an Archaeological Evaluation

'An Archaeological evaluation of a proposed development site on the corner of Cow ane and Mill Lane, Wareham, Dorset (SY 9223 8748), was undertaken by AC Archaeology during June 2005. The site lies within the boundaries of the Saxon town and c. 50m from locations where Romano-British artefacts have been previously found. The work comprised the machine excavation of two trenches totalling 5.5m in length, with each trench 1.2m wide. These revealed evidence for medieval occupation on the site at a depth of c. 500mm below existing ground levels. Deposits recorded comprised possible pits and ditches containing 12th to 13th century pottery and other finds. The results from the site parallel other investigations in Wareham, which have established that during the 12th and 13th century settlement was expanding within the burh into areas that were hitherto undeveloped and probably agricultural land.'