SDO15117 - Royal Manor School Playing Fields, Weston, Portland, Dorset. Results of a Second Stage Archaeological Trench Evaluation

‘A second-sage archaeological trench evaluation on a raised terrace that is part of playing fields opposite Royal Manor School, Weston Road, Portland, Dorset (NGR SY 6845 7170) was undertaken by AC archaeology during July 2005. The work was carried out in the proposed position of a new sports pitch that has had to be relocated because groundworks in its original position revealed a multi-period archaeological settlement complex. A subsequent first stage evaluation established the probable extent of this activity, as a large part of the western side of the terrace has been landscaped to create a level playing field. The current work comprised the machine-excavation of three trenches located in the proposed position of the new sports pitch. The trench furthest to the east contained two probable pits of Romano-British date, as well as a surviving soil sequence that was recognised during the first stage evaluation. This sequence was also partly present in the central trench, but not in the one furthest to the west, where previous landscaping was recorded. The evaluation has confirmed the results of the earlier work in that the ground on the western side of the new pitch has been truncated, while the eastern side contains a surviving soil sequence where intact archaeological deposits could reasonably be expected to survive.’