SDO17318 - Wimborne Town FC - Cuthbury Gardens, Wimborne Minster, Dorset. Archaeological Evaluation Report and Updated Project Design

OASIS: Wessex Archaeology, commissioned by Wyatt Homes Ltd, between 17th of February 2020 January 2021 undertook further archaeological mitigation on land at Wimborne Town Football Club and Cuthbury Gardens, Wimborne Minster, Dorset (centered on National Grid Reference 400260 100189). This formed part of a program of fulfilling a planning condition prior to development (Ref. 3/16/0002/FUL). This comprised a desk-based assessment, geophysical survey, initial evaluation (108781), 2020 excavation (108782) followed by archaeological evaluation (T22933) in early 2021. The prior initial evaluation had identified a zone of Middle/Late Bronze Age activity subsequently targeted during the excavation. The 2020 excavation (of 2,500 m2) recorded part of a Middle/Late Bronze Age field system, post-built structures, and several pits, three of which contained pottery vessels likely to represent the truncated remains of urned cremation burials, although no cremated bone was recovered. A small 'keyhole-shaped' oven of possible Romano-British date and two parallel pit alignments of uncertain date, were also recorded. These contained charcoal-rich fills and burnt/degraded limestone and tufa derived from an industrial process. The 2021 trial trench evaluation identified archaeological features in five of the 11 trenches, and artefacts recovered from naturally derived deposits in two further trenches. Features of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age to Middle/Late Bronze Age date were recorded, comprising ditches and a gully forming part of a field system and several pits. Four pits contained pottery vessels, possibly representing the truncated remains of urned cremation burials, however no cremated bone was present. A buried soil and tree-throw hole were also recorded.