SDO9525 - Poundbury Phase II Archaeological Field Evaluation: Geophysical Survey, Fieldwalking and Trenching

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by the Duchy of Cornwall to carry out an archaeological evaluation of land, designated as Poundbury Phase II, in advance of a proposed light industrial development. The evaluation was undertaken to establish the nature, extent, date, and character of areas of archaeological interest. Geophysical and fieldwalking surveys were carried out to identify areas of archaeological potential. The areas thus identified were then evaluated with seven trenches which were excavated by Wessex Archaeology in December 1996. No evidence of archaeological features were recorded during the trenching phase of the evaluation. The absence of any archaeological features within the evaluation trenches is discussed with reference to the abundant features noted by previous work in the area. It is suggested that subsequent ploughing may have destroyed any archaeological features and that anomalies recorded by the geophysical survey may have been geological in origin.