SWX8639 - Weymouth Bay Holiday Park, Preston Road, Weymouth, Dorset, Archaeological Evaluation

Land within and immediately adjacent to Weymouth Bay Holiday Park (caravan park) was evaluated by way of 16 machine excavated trenches. Two areas were investigated:Area B, in the floodplain of the River Jordan and close to the Preston Roman Villa Scheduled Monument (Dorset M64); and Area C on higher ground adjacent to St Andrews Church and close to the village of Preston. Fourteen trenches were excavated in Area B and Area C. No archaeological features were present in Area B, but deposits of tufaceous peat were revealed in one trench (Trench 8) located close to the river's edge, and sealed beneath layers of compacted modern rubble that were seen to spread in varying thicknesses across the rest of the evaluation area. Two broad linear features containing small quantities of animal bone, worked flint and ceramic building material were revealed in Area C. These features are of uncertain function and date but they are likely to be of archaeological origin. Both features were sealed below at least 0.5m of top/subsoil. Overall the impact of the proposed development is considered to be low due to the superficial nature of most of the groundworks proposed. Excavations in excess of 0.5m in Area C or in the area of the peat deposits (Area B) may incur some impact on deposits of archaeological or paleo-environmental potential. The archive is currently stored at Old Sarum under reference W8776, and will be deposited with Dorset County Museum in due course.