EDO4086 - Industrial Development Site, Poundbury, Dorchester; Evaluation Trench 5

Exeter Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation of land to the east of Poundbury Farm proposed for industrial development by Dorset Cereals Ltd. Six trenches were excavated by machine, comprising a 3.3% sample of the site. Trench 5 measured 12m by 1.5m and was aligned N-S near the NE corner of the site. The excavations revealed a massive pit, 7-8.5m wide, cut into the chalk bedrock. It was not fully excavated, although a sondage revealed it to be at least 2m deep. The lowest fill contained frequent chalk but no finds, the upper fills contained four struck flints and a single sherd of abraded Iron Age pottery. These fills were sealed by anotherl horizon containing further struck flints and five sherds of abraded Iron Age pottery. The pit was located in the approximate position of a linear cropmark (2). This pit was interpreted by the excavators as a post-medieval chalk pit, but its size, shape and filling suggest it is more likely to be an Iron Age/Roman chalk quarry, a number of other examples of which have been found in the vicinity of this site.