SDO13979 - Land at Walford Farm and West of Cranborne Road, Wimborne, Dorset. Archaeological Evaluation

‘This report outlines the results of an archaeological trial trench evaluation undertaken on land at Walford Farm and west of Cranborne Road, Wimborne, Dorset. A total of 45 trenches were excavated over seven fields to the east and west of Cranborne Road. Areas of archaeological potential dating to the early Neolothic, the Late Bronze Age and early medieval periods have been identified. The early Neolithic activity comprises an artefact spread with pottery and burnt flint and a small fire pit. The Bronze Age activity was centred around a presumed enclosure on the summit of the south facing slope on the north eastern side of the site. A series of shallow gullies were identified in the trenches spanning what is presumed to be the interior of the enclosure and two large storage pits have been identified to the west. Medieval activity has been identified in three areas, the easternmost of which appears to be domestic/agricultural in nature and may relate to a pre-existing farmstead on the north side of Burt’s Hill. The largest medieval area of activity was located on the west side of Cranborne Road, towards the southern extent of the site. Numerous ditches, pits, post holes and other features have been identified in this area. The artefact assemblage suggests this was an industrial area on the outskirts of the town and the large amount of slag recovered imply iron smelting was almost certainly being undertaken in the vicinity. An area containing medieval ditches on the east side of Cranborne Road may be an extension of the industrial activity or this could be purely agricultural in nature.’