SDO12423 - A New Conservation Pond on the Ranston Estate, Iwerne Courtney, Dorset. Results of an Archaeological Trench Evaluation

An archaeological evaluation on the site of a proposed conservation pond on land that is part of the Ranston Estate, Iwerne Courtney, Dorset (SY 8611 1181) was carried out by AC archaeology during March 2005. The new pond is to be located close to an area containing medieval settlement earthworks. The evaluation consisted of the machine-excavation of three trenches, each measuring 8m x 2.2m in plan. A wide ditch containing a single piece of prehistoric worked flint was the only archaeological feature identified during the work this ditch ran broadly parallel with the adjacent river and it may represent evidence for an early field division. Evidence for an earlier natural river terrace was defined in the most southerly trench. this terrace had been naturally infilled with a distinct alluvial subsoil. The two remaining trenches were also excavated through this terrace deposit.