EDO4917 - Rear of 43/45 High Street, Christchurch; evaluation (Trench 1)

AC Archaeology were commissioned by the landowner, Mr Bassage, to conduct a desk-based assessment and archaeological evaluation on land at the rear of 43/45 High Street, Christchurch, in advance of proposed residential development. The evaluation, by means of three machine dug trenches took place in July 1995. One of the trenches contained no archaeological finds or in situ deposits, and the area seems to have been terraced or severly truncated in recent times. Two medieval features were recorded, one in each of the other two trenches: a possible linear ditch over 1.5m wide, a shallow pit 0.6m in diameter. Both contained 13th-14th century pottery but their function is unclear. The trenches were each located to lie within the footprint of the proposed buildings. Trench 1 measured 15m x 0.95m, was oriented NE-SW, and was excavated to a depth of 0.4m at the NE end (0.85m at the SW end). One archaeological features was defined and excavated. Pit [307] was 0.6m diameter and 0.55m deep and the fill (yellow-brown sand) contained medieval pottery, burnt and worked flint and animal bone.