SDO12335 - An Archaeological Watching Brief at High Park Road, Corfe Mullen, Dorset

An archaeological watching brief was carried out during water main replacement works along High Park Road and Roman Road, Corfe Mullen, Dorset (SY 9933 9610) on 18 and 19 October 2000. The main trench ran down the centre of the known route of the Hamworthy to Badbury Rings Roman road. Observations of the trench sections revealed a stratigraphic sequence which showed the agger of the Roman road to be well preserved, albeit truncated in a number of places by modern service trenches. No associated ditches could be observed, although the best opportunity to see one, on the eastern edge of the current road was denied by the intrusion of a modern service trench. A distinction was noted between the sections of the modern road which were covered in tarmac and those which are currently rough trackway. Under the tarmac, the Roman road is sealed below a 0.5m thick deposit of soil, gravel and roots. In the areas of trackway, the agger is covered only by a thin layer of chippings and is close to becoming exposed in some places.