EDO4664 - Poundbury Development Phase II; excavation (Area 2)

Wessex Archaeology undertook two archaeological excavations and an archaeological watching brief in advance of construction works at Poundbury Parkway, Dorchester in 2005 (1). An earlier evaluation by Wessex Archaeology had suggested that archaeological remains dating from the Bronze Age period were present on site (2). Excavation area 2 was targeted to investigate the area around Evaluation Trenches 7 and 14 which were highlighted by the evaluation as having high archaeological potential (2). Area 2 was a large and irregular excavation area located south of and adjacent to Bridport Road and measuring at least 80m NE-SW x 40m NW-SE. The earliest finds recovered from this area were residual neolithic flint flakes recovered from the fill of a Middle Bronze Age ditch. The vast majority of features excavated in this area were of Middle Bronze Age date, the most significant of which was a ditched enclosure within which a group of features suggested occupation. The enclosure formed part of a more extensive field system continuing beyond the confines of the excavated area. The enclosure consisted of at least two sub-rectangular compartments with a combined area of c. 1800 sq.m. divided by a N-S ditch. The only apparent access to the enclosure was through a very narrow gap on the south side. The ditches, as recorded, were up to 1m deep.The internal features comprised a cluster of 13 circular features within an area c.10m in diameter and located in the NW corner of the enclosures western compartment. Three were pits containing MBA pottery, the remainder probably post-holes for timber supporting a structure whose precise nature could not be determined. A sub-rectangular pit, measuring 5m x 4m 13m deep truncated the MBA enclosure ditch and contained three small Iron Age pottery sherds and a fragment of copper. It may have functioned as a chalk quarry. A substantial dry valley in the eastern part of area 2 was filled with five distinct layers of colluvium containing Middle Bronze Age and Romano-British pottery. Their accumulation seemed to have occurred slowly at times during which the site was occupied. A group of five undated stakeholes were recorded beneath the colluvium in this area. They appear to form a small structure and may also be of Middle Bronze Age date. Two intercutting cremation graves containing the remains of a least two individuals were excavated in the SW part of area 2 at the intersection of two Middle Bronze Age ditches and may have been contemporary with them.