SWX8648 - Weymouth Bay Holiday Park, Preston, Weymouth, Dorset. Archaeological Evaluation

‘Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by ARA architects on behalf of The Rank Group Holidays Division to undertake an archaeological evaluation of the areas of proposed tree planting within the Weymouth Bay Holiday Park to the south of Preston, Dorset (SY 7025 8273). The area of the proposed tree planting lies immediately to the west of the area of the Scheduled Monument, Preston Roman Villa (Dorset No. 64). The potential exists for deposits or structures associated with the villa to extend beyond the limits of the Scheduled area. Three machine dug trenches were excavated in areas specified by the County Archaeology Service. Only one undated feature, a ditch with a 'V' shaped profile, was recorded and little archaeological material was collected. The lack of archaeological material so close to the site of a substantial Roman building is surprising. Any auxilliary buildings such as barns must, if they exist, lie elsewhere. The lack of a scatter of Roman pottery might be explained by the presence of a pastoral rather than arable regime in the surrounding area. No evidence of removal of deposits by landscaping for the current caravan park was identified.’