SDO18962 - Alderney Water Treatment Works. Archaeological Evaluation

‘Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Stantec UK Limited, on behalf of South West Water (the client), to undertake an archaeological evaluation of a 1.95 ha parcel of land located in Alderney, Water Treatment Works, Francis Avenue, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH11 8NX, centred on NGR 404600 095200. A total of 16 trenches varying in length from c. 12 m to 30 m in length were excavated to a maximum depth of just below 1.0 m. The majority of the trenches were stepped in 0.50 m intervals and were 3 m wide at the top of the trench and 1.8 m wide at the base. The trenches were excavated through deposits consisting of made ground and topsoil above natural sands and gravels. It is likely that the made ground is related to the storage of material from the Water Treatment Works, while the topsoil layers likely represent the original ground level with some truncation and landscaping present in places. This truncation did not appear to have disturbed the potential archaeological horizon as features including shrub bowls, two modern ditches and two undated postholes were recorded at the level of the natural geology of sands and gravels and this weathered upper surface of the geology seemed to be preserved. One trench also exhibited evidence of preserved subsoil in the form of podzolization layers with distinct ashy grey sands and dark brown sandy silts recorded.’