EDO5607 - A31 Sturt Lane to Red Post road improvements; evaluation 1994

Cotswold Archaeology were commissioned to carry out an archaeological evaluation along the A31 road improvements. The evaluation consisted of fieldwalking and auger surveys followed by trial trenching. Undated linear features near White Lane bridleway (SY 873 965) and a small quantity of Neolithic/Bronze Age flintwork at Red Post junction (SY 884 971) were recorded. Funded by Dorset Engineering Consultancy. A total of thirteen evaluation trenches were placed throughout the study areas. Trenches 1 to 5 were located at Red Post junction. Their aim was to determine the extent of medieval activity associated with the shrunken village of Winterbourne Tomson. Trenches 6 to 9 were at Whit Lane bridleway in order to confirm the presence of its southern extension, while trenches 10 to 13 were to establish if archaeological deposits were present there. Ten of the thirteen trenches place contained no archaeological features. One shallow linear feature was found in trench 7. A sherd of un-diagnostic pottery was present in its fill. Trench 8 contained three shallow linear features. None of these produced artefactual material. A rough metalled surface made up of flint gravels within a chalky clay matrix was found in trench 2. This follows the alignment of the present bridle path, though again, no dateable material was retrieved. A small assemblage of lithics was recovered in trenches 4 and 5. These are mostly knapping waste, with few implements or touched pieces. (No specific date for groundworks given).