SDO21267 - Archaeological Observation at 'Volendam', Church Lane, Charlton Marshall

‘A condition requiring archaeological observation and recording during groundworks was attached to consent for this development because of the finds of human remains at this house. In 1988 a human burial was found during excavation of a foundation trench at this house. The burial was thought to be prehistoric, and is now in the Dorset County Museum. It was also recorded that the house’s owner, Mr Squires, had found a skull several years before this, indicating the presence of a cemetery (Dorset Sites and Monuments Record – Charlton Marshall no. 24). The DCC Archaeology Service had offered to undertake the archaeological work. I visited the site on the morning of 13 May 1996. Excavation of the foundation trench was in progress. Excavations of the proposed lounge extension (see attached plan) was in progress. The sections showed 0.10-0.15m of topsoil overlying chalk subsoil. At the location shown on the plan, a cut feature was visible in section beneath the topsoil. The feature was only visible in the south-east face of the trench (the north-west face, nearer the house, seemed to have been disturbed by earlier construction work). It was c. 1m wide and c. 0.30m deep, with steep sides and a slightly concave base. The fill was a lightish brown sandy silt, containing chalk fragments. A long bone was visible within the fil in the section, but was not removed. Another bone was noted in the excavated spoil, but was replaced in the trench. Mr Squires believed that these bones were part of the same burial as the skull referred to above. He showed me a photograph of the excavated remains of this first discovery. These included not only a skull, but also several other bones. Mr Squires agreed to call the Archaeology Service if further remains were found in the curse of the work. No call was received.’