SWX8553 - Summary report on an Archaeological Excavation on Land Adjacent to Bell Street, Swanage, Dorset.

Report of excavation carried out in advance of residential development. Southern Archaeological Services (SAS) conducted an archaeological excavation of land adjacent to Bell Street, Swanage during April 1997 in advance of housing development and following a desk-based assessment and field evaluation undertaken by Wessex Archaeology. Further observations on groundworks associated with the development continued until June 1997. A shallow rectangular feature was found, associated with at least two phases of post holes, and dated by pottery to the beaker period (c. 2600-1800 BC). It is possible that these features formed part of a structure of uncertain function, probably a grave. Further, undated, post-holes were scattered over the surrounding area. All archaeological features were cut into a remnant of a natural deposit confined to a hollow between periglacial features. It is assumed that the bulk of this deposit, together with any other archaeological features, has been eroded either by natural agencies or by ploughing, or a combination of both. All archaeological features were sealed by a layer of colluvium up to 0.85m thick and containing aretfacts ranging in date from the beaker period to Modern. A lynchet on the southern edge of the excavation area was composed of material indistinguishable from the colluvium.