SDO15162 - Peaton's Lane, Lytchett Matravers, Dorset. An Archaeological Field Evaluation and Watching Brief

‘Context One Archaeological Services (COAS) carried out an Archaeological Field Evaluation along the route of a replacement water supply main at Peaton’s Lane, Lytchett Matravers, Dorset (centred on NGR SY 93645 95710) as Stage 1 of an archaeological programme of works on 18 July 2006. The evaluation was followed by an Archaeological Watching Brief conducted as Stage 2 of the archaeological programme over two days between 25 and 26 July 2006. The investigation was commissioned and funded by Wessex Water plc. … Neither the evaluation nor the watching brief revealed any archaeological features or significant deposits relating to the shrunken village of Lytchett Matravers, and only a modest assemblage of post-medieval and modern artefacts were recovered from the topsoil/ploughsoil. However, a localised spread of stone was encountered at the interface of the sub-soil/natural clay in evaluation Trench 2, along with a small dump of oyster shell at the same horizon. During the course of the watching brief a spread of local red sandstone was revealed during the soilstrip in the same vicinity, and a small quantity of brick and red sandstone was recorded within the subsoil towards the centre of the pipe trench section. It is possible that these spreads represent demolition material from former buildings close-by, perhaps even those that now appear to be represented by earthwork platforms immediately to the north and west of the pipeline easement.’