SDO21413 - Archaeological Strip, Map & Sample Excavation. Phase M3 - Woodsford Quarry East, Woodsford, Dorchester, Dorset

‘This report details the results of a programme of Archaeological Strip, Map & Sample Excavation undertaken between the 4th March and 2nd April 2024 in advance of an 11 Phase (Phases M3 and EA-EJ) programme of gravel extraction at Woodsford Quarry East, Woodsford, Dorchester, Dorset (NGR: SY 77248 89889 – approximate centre). The works, which were undertaken within Phase M3 only, were carried out on behalf of Hills UK Ltd in response to Planning Reference I/E/2005/0742. Woodsford Quarry East is located to the N of the village of Crossways and E of the village of Woodsford, approximately 6km to the E of Dorchester. Phase M3 was located along the northern boundary and formed one of 11 slightly irregular-shaped squared plots of flat agricultural land that measured c.13,660m2. The excavation revealed three separate phases of activity, with the initial occupation of the Site seemingly occurring in the Early Neolithic, as evidenced by a radiocarbon date from a single post-hole; this was followed by the construction of a probable Bronze Age ring-ditch, and finally two post-medieval boundarys, one of which is still extant in the surrounding landscape. Based on the palaeoenvironmental evidence, it appears that burning was taking place in the vicinity of the features during context deposition; however, the insufficient quantities of carbonised cereal, carbonised and uncarbonised wild taxa and molluscan evidence precluded any further palaeoenvironmental interpretation. Although the results were limited, the works carried out within Phase M3 at Woodsford Quarry East may help in addressing specific research aims as identified in The Archaeology of South West England: South West Archaeological Research Framework.'