SDO12329 - An Archaeological Assessment of Land at Abbey Street, Cerne Abbas, Dorset

An archaeological assessment was carried out of land at Abbey Street, Cerne Abbas, Dorset (NGR 6660 0135). Examination of existing archaeological and historical data indicated that the Site lay in close proximity to upstanding and buried remains of the village of Cerne Abbey (Saxon and medieval), St Augustine’s Well (Saxon and medieval) and the village of Cerne Abbas (medieval and possibly earlier). Low banks of stone and earth are presents on the southern part of the Site and correspond with the location of property boundaries marked on a map of 1768. They may have formed boundaries laid out as part of the apparently planned medieval core of Cerne Abbas. Ground disturbance within the Site was assessed as light. The assessment was not able to discount the presence of archaeological deposits on the Site and a proposal is put forward for excavation by hand of three evaluation trenches in areas which are likely to be disturbed by the development proposals. These trenches are designed to provide sufficient information to allow the Senior Archaeologist for Dorset County Council to reach an informed opinion on the archaeological implications of the planning application.