SDO9447 - Dorchester Middle School, Queen’s Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset: Magnetometer (gradiometer) survey

Magnetometer survey was carried out on the playing field at Dorchester Middle School, Queens Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset in advance of a proposed extension by Oxford Archaeotechnics in August 1997. The survey provided evidence for a number of intrusive linear and curvilinear features. Although the majority are insubstantial and are probably of agricultural origin, at least one ditch of potential archaeological significance was located, which apparently relates to a group of features, known from aerial photography, limited archaeological excavation and geophysical survey to the southwest of the survey area. Further features with some possible archaeological potential include a group of weak curvilinear anomalies, together with what appears to be a broad oval (probably shallow) depression; a further linear was recorded close to the perimeter fence at a location in which a parchmark has been noted. Considerable amounts of ferrous material were present in the topsoil.