SDO14078 - Knighton Farm Golf Course, Poole, Dorset. First 9-hole Loop. Archaeological Evaluation

An archaeological evaluation comprising fieldwalking over part of the area and trial trenching by machine (across the whole area) were undertaken in advance of the first stage of a proposed golf course development. The site lies in an area of high archaeological potential in the Stour Valley at Knighton Farm, Poole. The first 9-hole loop involves five field parcels and extends over approximately 29 hectares (centred on SZ 04259820). Overall the survey revealed archaeological deposits of principally Mesolithic to Bronze Age date extending over the greater part of the survey area. The trial trenches revealed subsoil archaeological features cut into the underlying gravels. These features took the form of postholes, pits, ditches and hollows. With one exception low levels of finds were recovered from these features, including small amounts of Neolithic and Bronze Age worked and burnt flint and a single sherd of Late Bronze Age pottery. One of the trial trenches located in the proposed lake, however, contained in situ Mesolithic worked flint. Surface artefact distributions recorded by fieldwalking indicate distinct concentrations of prehistoric worked flint, particularly Mesolithic blade industries, along with fairly high amounts of general Neolithic and Bronze Age material across the field. Very few finds of later date (Iron Age onwards) were recovered. Overall, the evaluation has demonstrated that archaeological deposits extend across the greater part of the first 9-hole loop. Some of these deposits will undoubtedly be affected by the current development proposals, that is, during the excavations for sand-traps and the lake. Outside the main landscaping zone (c. 93% of the whole area) preserved archaeological deposits should remain unaffected by the development since it is understood that there are no plans for intensive planting or drainage associated with this phase of the golf course.