SDO11588 - An Archaeological Investigation at The Leaze, Wimborne Minster, Dorset (Scheduled Monument No.678)

An archaeological investigation comprising the excavation and recording of six machine-dug trenches examined an area of the Leaze deserted medieval settlement. Trenches were located both within and adjacent to the area of the scheduled monument, and the works were undertaken in accordance with a consent granted by the Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Three of the trenches uncovered evidence for Late Iron Age or early Romano-British activity comprising a series of linear ditches and several pits which produced significant quantities of pottery, worked and burnt flint. Small quantities of medieval pottery were recovered; only one linear feature could be assigned positively to this period. The information derived from the evaluation will be used in the design of a proposed cricket pitch and ancillary facilities that will partly lie in the northern section of the scheduled area. A separate scheduled monument consent application will be submitted for these facilities.