SDO12535 - Proposed extension to burial ground at St Nicholas Church, Studland, Dorset. Results of an archaeological evaluation.

An archaeological evaluation, by trial trenching, on land at St Nicholas Church. Studland, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset (SZ03688257), was carried out by AC archaeology during May 2011, in order to asses the archaeological potential of the site of a proposed burial ground extension. The evaluation followed an earlier geophysical survey, by gradiometer, which identified a number of magnetic anomalies, or areas of magnetic disturbance, thought to derive buried archaeology deposits. Extensive evidence for archaeological activity of Late Iron Age/ Early Romano-British date was encountered in three of the trenches, situated in a low-lying area at the south extent of the site. This included artefacts relating to industrial activity in the form of salt working. A quantity of Late Iron Age pottery was recovered from two of these trenches where a significant number of archaeological features was encountered, including part of a large probable enclosure ditch. Full excavation of these deposits within the trial trenches was not possible due to safety constraints.