SDO16806 - 33kV Pole Replacements near Gussage St Michael, Dorset. Archaeological Watching Brief

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks to undertake an archaeological watching brief during the replacement of 6 no 33kV electricity poles near Gussage St Michael, Dorset. The poles were located to the west (NGR 396110 111640) and north-west (NGR 397110 113110) of the village. The works comprised the machine excavation of a trench at the location of each pole to facilitate the removal of the old pole and the installation of the replacement pole and supporting sleeper. 5 trenches were monitored. One pole location was not monitored. Despite the location of the works within proximity to known settlements and funerary monuments no archaeological features or deposits were observed. Some residual worked flint likely Neolithic/Bronze Age in date was recovered from the topsoil within the trenches at Poles 96 and 97. The trenches were cut through topsoil which directly overlay the natural chalk geology excepting in two trenches in the northern extent of the scheme where a subsoil was observed (Pole 96) and a possible alluvial layer was recorded (Pole 99). The monitored works were of limited scope, and no archaeological features were revealed. A small number of residual flints recovered represents the background prehistoric activity within the area, which is attested to by the presence of an extensive funerary landscape dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods.