EDO4148 - Dorchester Library Extension, Colliton Park, Dorchester; evaluation 2000

An archaeological evaluation by means of trench investigation and monitoring of geotechnical test pits on the site of a proposed extension to Dorchester Library, was carried out by AC archaeology during March and May 2000 (1) (2) (3). A machine excavated trial trench (Test pit 3) measuring 2m x 1.2m was dug in May 2000. This followed the observations of two engineering test pits (TP1 and TP2) in March 2000. All three test pits were within the area of the 1960s excavations on the Library Site (4). This evaluation revealed no evidence for intact archaeological deposits or finds in any testpit. Test pits 1 and 2 were dug through modern soil and rubble down on to the concrete raft of the existing library building. Test Pit 3 revealed modern disturbance across the whole of the trench, except in the SW corner where a dark brown soil immediately overlying the natural chalk was exposed. This soil was not dated but is likely to be fairly recent in origin. Any archaeological deposits appear to have been removed by the earlier archaeological excavations and by the groundworks associated with the initial construction of the library.