SDO13956 - 112 Sutton Road, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth, Dorset. Archaeological Evaluation

This report outlines the details of a trial trench evaluation undertaken by Bournemouth Archaeology on behalf of Holdfast Estates Limited at 112 Sutton Road, Sutton Poyntz, Dorset. This work was recommended by Dorset County Council’s Senior Archaeologist to provide information about the archaeological potential of the site ahead of the submission of a planning application seeking permission to demolish an existing bungalow and build a new house on the site. Two trenches, one on the north side of the bungalow and one on the south side of the proposed development, were excavated by hand to examine the nature and extend of any archaeological features. Both trenches were excavated to natural subsoil up to a depth of 1.2m. Two inhumation burials, a child and an adult, were identified in the southernmost trench (Trench 1), while a single adult burial, with at least three complete ceramic pots, were identified in the northernmost trench (Trench 2).Soil layers above the burials contained sherds of pottery dating to the Romano-British period. The presence of human remains in both trenches, along with evidence from previous archaeological excavations in the vicinity of the site, gives a strong indication that this area was used as a cemetery in the Roman period. Based upon these results the archaeological potential of the site can be classified as high with regionally significant archaeological deposits and features present. These will be impacted upon by ground works associated with the proposed development and will need to be taken into consideration during the design and planning process. It is anticipated that any ground works associated with the proposed redevelopment has a high potential to impact negatively on the archaeological resource. It is therefore recommended that prior to the commencement of any proposed development a mitigation strategy will be required to alleviate damage to archaeological deposits/features.