EDO5828 - Corfe Mullen to Salisbury Water Transfer Scheme Evaluation Trench 5

Cotswold Archaeology undertook an archaeological evaluation of the route of the proposed Corfe Mullen to Salisbury Water Transfer Scheme between July and December 2012. A total of 47 trenches were excavated in Dorset. Trench 5 was located across the line of the Roman road running from Dorchester to Silchester to the south of Shapwick. It was positioned in a gap in the earthwork which was clearly visible in relief to south-west and north-east of the trench. It measured 30 m by 1.8m and was positioned to evaluate geophysical anomaly 326, which is one of two linear anomalies running parallel to the course of the road. A dense spread of flints about 7.9m wide was uncovered and is likely to be the base of the Roman road gravels. No sign of any associated roadside ditches were identified in the trench. [1] [2] The record for this event has been created with support from Wessex Water.