SDO12263 - Lake Farm, Wimborne, Dorset. Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief Report

An archaeological evaluation and watching brief was undertaken at Lake Farm, Wimborne Dorset for C G Pitcher and Son Ltd on behalf of Mr John George. Conditional planning permission (08/31146/6) including an archaeological condition, has been granted for the construction of an agricultural barn. The Site lies within an area defined as a Scheduled Monument (SM736), a 1st century Roman military site, which contains a 16.8 hectare (vexillation) fort, although the Site itself lies outside the south east corner of the fort’s defensive ditch circuit. The Scheduled Monument has been subject to small scale investigations and geophysical survey since the late 1950’s. Scheduled Monument Consent (HSD 9/2/14217) for the evaluation was granted prior to any fieldwork commencing. The fieldwork comprised a cross-shaped evaluation trench, within the footprint of the proposed barn. The evaluation revealed and confirmed the presence of Roman features on the Site. At a depth of 0.8m below the current ground surface a substantial ditch was uncovered. Pottery, glass and metalwork was recovered from this feature dating to the mid 1st century AD/early conquest period. The dating of this feature conformed to evidence gathered during the earlier investigations undertaken within the scheduled area. The trench also contained a small stakehole in association with a possible gully. Although no datable artefacts were recovered from these features it is reasonable to assume that they are also Roman in date. These results confirm the presence of archaeology within the south east corner of the scheduled area and outside the known boundary of the Roman fort itself. The evaluation confirms the results of previous geophysical survey work undertaken in the 1970s and 1980s, which seemed to indicate activity outside of the bounds of the fort ditches. It was not possible to confirm, whether or not the features revealed in the evaluation were military or associated with Vicus activity around the outskirts of the fort enclosure. The evaluation has confirmed the presence of archaeological features on the Site dating to the Roman period most probably associated with the Roman fort. Being within a Scheduled Monument these features qualify as being of national importance and will be suitably militated against within the development programme to ensure that the archaeological horizon/features are preserved in situ. An impact assessment of the proposed development on the archaeological remains within the Site has been set out demonstrating how preservation in situ of the archaeological remains can be achieved. The impact assessment takes into consideration the design and depth of the proposed new barn in relation to the known depth of the archaeological horizon revealed during the evaluation. An archaeological mitigation strategy, comprising a strictly monitored watching brief during all groundworks on the Site, is to be undertaken in order to ensure that preservation in situ is complied with and that no damage or truncation of the known archaeological horizon occurs. The evaluation report was formally submitted to English Heritage and Dorset County Council (DCC), acting on behalf of the Local Planning Authority for approval. Following approval of the evaluation report, Scheduled Monument Consent (HSD 9/2/14320) was granted by the Department of Culture Media and Sport allowing development to be undertaken at the Site subject to the details set out in the evaluation report. The approval of the evaluation report by DCC allowed for the addressing/discharging of the condition attached to planning application 08/31146/6 ensuring that development at the Site could be undertaken. An archaeological watching brief was undertaken on the groundworks for the barn development on the 28th September 2009. The watching brief continuously monitored all groundworks undertaken at the Site, to ensure that they strictly complied with the proposed scope of works as specified in the evaluation report impact assessment (Section 8). The monitored works comprised the stripping of the barn footprint to a depth of up to 0.45m, excavation of foundation trenches to a maximum depth of 0.60m and topsoil removal to a maximum depth of 0.20m for the area of hardstanding to the south of the proposed barn. All upcast from the excavations was placed around the specified edges of the Site to allow for the landscaping detailed in the impact assessment. All upcast and exposed surfaces were scanned visually and with a metal detector, not but artefacts other than modern refuse were observed. The monitored groundworks were seen to comply with the scope of works set out in the evaluation report (Section 8) and the terms of the Scheduled Monument Consent (HSD 9/2/14320). The groundworks were shown to have only disturbed the topsoil and subsoil ‘b-horizon’. The depth of potential archaeological deposits, as demonstrated by the evaluation, are 0.2m below the maximum depth of the groundworks and have therefore been preserved in situ within the footprint of the barn.