SDO9655 - Middle Farm, Bridport Road, Dorchester. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

An excavation was undertaken in advance of development by the Duchy of Cornwall. The excavation followed a two-stage evaluation which had suggested substantial activity in the Bronze Age. The excavation was designed to examine those areas considered most likely to contain the remanants of Bronze Age settlement sites. The excavation confirmed that the site was comprehensively covered by the remains of a Bronze Age ditched field system which defined a series of rectangular fields c. 0.5 ha in area. Artefacts such as pottery and quern stones from within the ditch fills suggested that settlement was located nearby. At least one post-built roundhouse was identified but remained undated. Other evidence for prehistoric activity both pre-dated and post-dated the Bronze Age. This included four Early Neolithic pits and a Late Bronze Age settlement of two roundhouses and at least 8 pits.