SDO142 - Wytch Farm Oilfield Development F-D Flowline. Archaeological Assessment

Summary of the results of an archaeological assessment survey undertaken during July 1987 by the Trust for Wessex Archaeology for BP Petroleum Development Ltd. The area incorporated in the survey is the strip of land to be used for the construction of a new pipeline linking Wellsites F and D. Work included geophysical survey, the recording of surface features, and excavation of trial pits. Geophysical survey was generally unsuccessful owing the nature of the soils and the presence of intrusive iron objects. Very shallow soils were encountered, leading the authors to conclude that it was unlikely that significant archaeological remains would survive over much of the route of the flowline. Evidence of a medieval settlement was found, perhaps associated with a surviving group of buildings at Ower Farm. Elsewhere on the route, a series of undated ditches was recorded, coinciding with features noted from aerial photographs. The possibility of these features being the surviving remains of the failed medieval town of Newton Studland is discussed.