SDO16462 - Ham Farm, Gillingham, Dorset. Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Observations and recording during groundworks for residential development revealed no evidence of archaeological remains over most of the site. Excavation in one part revealed four shallow linear cuts which were interpreted as the truncated remains of robbed-out foundation trenches or beam-slots covered by a burnt layer. The remains of a hearth with a pot set into the ground were found in the centre of the building and interpreted as evidence of some sort of fermentation process. Pottery recovered was predominantly Laverstock ware with a finer, sandy ware. The excavators suggest that the building may have been associated with the nearby deer park.