EDO4704 - Dorchester By-pass Western Link; soil test pit A

The excavation of five soil test pits for geotechnical soil testing prior to the construction of the Dorchester By-pass Western Link were observed by Wessex Archaeology during July 1987. The soil pits were spaced along the route of the Dorchester By-pass Western Link from Monkey’s Jump in the South to Whitfield Farm in the north. The pits were excavated by machine and were approximately 2m by 1m across and 3.5m deep. Test pit A revealed a 0.2-0.3m thick layer of ploughsoil over a 0.65-0.75m thick layer of light brown silty loam colluvium on top of the natural chalk. A small number of solution features were noted in the top of the chalk. A single piece of worked flint was recovered.