SWX8541 - Hurn Court Farm, Bournemouth, Dorset. Archaeological Evaluation Report.

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Land & Mineral Management Ltd on behalf of New Milton Sand and Ballast Company to carry out an archaeological trial trench evaluation at Hurn Court Farm, Bournemouth, Dorset (the Site), centred on grid reference SZ 121 968. The Site is the subject of proposed gravel extraction. The trial trench evaluation comprised the machine excavation of a total of 41 trenches, undertaken in two stages. The trenches were arranged according to a layout approved by the County Archaeological Officer. A desk-based assessment of the Site concluded that the Site contained no known archaeological remains, but that any potential archaeological remains would be totally removed by proposed extraction, and that a preliminary field walking survey be carried out. The field walking survey, of approximately 30% of the Site, established a low-level presence of prehistoric, Roman and medieval material, and a higher level of post-medieval and modern material. The evaluation located a total of 66 archaeological features, though only ten contained dateable pottery. The features range in date from the Early Bronze Age (2400-1500 BC) to the Romano-British (AD 43-410) period. Additionally, Mesolithic (8500-4000 BC) to post-medieval (1500-1799) finds were found in topsoil/subsoil horizons. Archaeological remains found include an undated cremation burial, a palaeo-channel deposit, and a ring ditch. The possible palaeo-channel contained pottery dating from the Early/Mid Iron Age (700-100 BC) to the Romano-British (AD 43-410) period. The ring ditch was situated in the extreme south-east area of site. The only dateable sherd of pottery from one of the sections excavated through it was a fragment of a collared urn from the early Bronze Age (2400-1500 BC) period. Of thirty-four linear features found in the northern third of the Site, some appear to reflect existing field boundaries, while others may represent an earlier field system. It is suggested that an appropriate strategy in mitigation of the proposed gravel extraction be identified in consultation with the Dorset County Archaeologist and set out in a Project Design. The strategy should be implemented as preliminary works prior to each phase of extraction and might reasonably include: • A detailed investigation of the area of the undated cremation found in trench 32 in advance of any soil stripping in Extraction Phase 3. • Prior to soil stripping in Extraction Phase 3 western area of the Site where trenches 23, 24, 29, and 30 have not been investigated followed by appropriate action according to the evaluation result. • A strip and record programme in advance of extraction Phase 4 where this incorporates the palaeo-channel deposit and linear features to the south thought to be of Iron Age and Romano-British date. • Monitoring of selected areas in a watching brief, following topsoil and subsoil stripping.