SDO14944 - Archaeological Observations during a Water Main Installation at Herrison, Charlton Down, to Forston Pumping Station

‘The archaeological monitoring of the laying of a replacement water main between Charlton Down and Forston pumping station on the A352 Dorchester road was carried out during March 2000. A study of the relevant Dorset SMR identified two sites that might be directly affected by the scheme: first, a group of medieval strip lynchets at the far W end of the scheme, and secondly, the remains of a field system located in Plot 4 towards the top of Charlton Down. There is also a significant number of Prehistoric burial mounds and medieval earthworks in the vicinity, as well as the remains of a Roman building immediately S of the pumping station, in Walls Field. The archaeological monitoring entailed the close observation of topsoil stripping and trenching to record any sub-surface features, or areas of archaeological interest. Only limited archaeological results were obtained, and what features were present did not constitute conclusive evidence. Plot 1 contained several spreads of material which followed the contours of a steeply rising slope, in the area of the identified lynchets, while Plots 4 and 5 contained a number of ditches of unknown date, but which might be associated with the field system identified in the area. Plot 3 revealed a small ditch and Plot 4 also contained the remains of a field boundary, recently removed. Only a small number of artefacts was recovered, mostly from displaced ploughsoil, although a small concentration of worked waste flints was recovered from the E end of Plot 5. Plot 2 contained no archaeological features. The pipeline has enabled these features, artefacts and naturally-formed deposits to be recorded revealing a cross-section through a very important historic landscape.’