SDO14037 - The Proposed Gravel Pit at Stafford Farm, West Stafford, Dorset: Report on Additional Archaeological Field Evaluation Around NGR SY730890 and SY735889

In January 1997, an archaeological evaluation had been carried out on the site of the proposed sand and gravel pit at Stafford Farm (NGR SY 733 890). The subsequent report on this evaluation (Cotton & Cox 1997) had highlighted three areas of particular archaeological interest, but was not able to provide a clear indication of the likely extent of deposits associated with these areas. Some further fieldwork was undertaken in May 1997 at the request of Dorset County Council, in order to clarify the nature of the remains. This additional field evaluation consisted of eleven machine dug trenches, and led to three main conclusions. Firstly, it could be seen that the area of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age interest originally revealed in Trench 4 (SW area) was localised in nature and did not extend outwards with any intensity from that trench. Secondly, it was seen that the area of archaeological interest revealed in evaluation trench 5 (NW area) was indeed of importance (a significant Late Neolithic feature was found in one of the additional trenches), although once again this area seemed limited in extent, with the majority of additional trenches having no archaeological content. Thirdly, it was demonstrated that the possible enclosure previously thought to exist between trenches 1 and 8 (SE area) was at best poorly preserved, and in all likelyhood largely non-existent.