SDO12499 - 'Excavation of an Iron Age and Roman settlement and salt production site at Shapwick Road, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, 2005-6' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

The report describes the results from eight excavation areas, integrated with findings from a previous watching brief. This work revealed evidence for a late Iron Age settlement with roundhouses, pits and linear features present. Two substantial ditches of late Iron Age to early Roman date are thought to represent defensive works. There is no unambiguous evidence that the site was a trading port in this period as has previously been suggested. Salt production started towards the end of the Iron Age and continued into the early Roman period. Roman activity on the site comprised salt production without any clear evidence of occupation. There was a shift in activity in the late Roman period, salt production ceased, and evidence for occupation is slight. The site was then abandoned.