SDO10638 - Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. An Archaeological Excavation Archive Report

‘This document is a summary of the results of an archaeological evaluation, excavation and watching brief, conducted by AOC Archaeology Group, at Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on behalf of Tesco Stores Ltd, between November 2003 and June 2004. The site, centred on ST 867 231, is about 250m to the east of Shaftesbury’s historic town centre, and covers just over 2 hectares. It was allocated the site code CSS 03. The evaluation consisted of eight trenches and the excavation covered an area of 25m x 25m. this encompassed a circular posthole structure identified in an evaluation trench, which has been radiocarbon dated to 1880-1640BC. The archaeological investigations over the remainder of the site were conducted as a watching brief. The most significant phases of archaeological activity found on the site were Early Bronze Age and Saxon to Medieval. The Early Bronze Age circular posthole structure is interpreted as a timber circle or related ceremonial monument, but the possibility it was an early roundhouse cannot be dismissed. It consisted of a semi-circle of posts facing south-east, 6.5m across and a square arrangement 2.0m across of two double posts and two single posts in front of it. The structure burnt down before the posts had started to decay, and the evidence implies that this was intentional. Grog-tempered pottery sherds probably from a Collared Urn and a plain vessel were recovered, in addition to an assemblage of thirteen scrapers, some having other functions, with some debitage. The artefacts were almost certainly intentionally placed, probably after the fire. The structure was isolated as well as short-lived, with almost no other Early Bronze Age features or artefacts on the site. A Saxon kiln, complete with the products of its last use left in situ probably as the firing was incomplete, is important. This probably dates to the early to mid 9th century but could be earlier or later: charcoal from fuel wood in the kiln has been radiocarbon dated to AD660-870, but the later part of this range is most consistent with the currently accepted regional ceramic chronology. The kiln was producing Crockerton-type ware, the fabric being different from those previously described, but closest to type H. All the vessels were jars with simple everted rims and rounded bases, with one exception that had a handle. Late Saxon and early medieval remains indicate domestic occupation on the western side of the site, closest to the core of the medieval town and the Abbey. The most intense domestic use was pre-conquest. Shallower occupation features had been lost to truncation, but 49 pits, 24 wells, and some enclosure ditches survived. Sizeable domestic rubbish assemblages were recovered from the pits and wells, and iron working was taking place nearby. The domestic pottery assemblage, especially the large late Saxon component, is significant. There were agricultural land divisions beyond this, which continued after the occupation had ceased.’