SDO14683 - Land to the west of Reap Lane, Southwell, Portland, Dorset. An Archaeological Field Evaluation.

‘Context One Archaeological Services (COAS) carried out an archaeological field evaluation on land to the west of Reap Lane, Southwell, Portland, Dorset (the ‘Site’), over 2 days in August 2013. The investigation comprised the machine and hand excavation of six trial trenches. The project was commissioned and funded by Betterment Properties (Weymouth) Ltd. The evaluation was requested by Mr Steven Wallis (Senior Archaeologist, Dorset County Council) in support of a planning application for residential development on the Site. Archaeological records note the presence of activity spanning the prehistoric to medieval periods in and around Southwell. The evaluation provided definitive evidence for just one feature and this comprised the foundations of a mortared limestone wall crossing Trench 1. The predominance of finds indicates a Romano-British date. The combined evidence is likely to favour a building albeit a modest structure. A mixed limestone brash and clay subsoil that covered the wall and extended across Trench 6 appears to demarcate a tight zone of activity near the eastern edge of the Site. An undulating subsoil that was particularly evident in Trench 4 and Trench 5 is suggestive of former ridge and furrow cultivation.’