EDO530 - Stour Park, Blandford St Mary; evaluation 1993

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation on land at Stour Park, Blandford St Mary in advance of the construction of a retail park during late May and early June 1993. 'The evaluation comprised the machine excavation of 15 trenches. The trenches revealed that much of the south-eastern area of the site had been damaged by activity connected with the construction of the Blandford Bypass, which formed the eastern boundary of the site. A single ditch of probable medieval date did however survive between and below the deeper areas of disturbance. The northern and south-eastern areas of the site were however, undisturbed and trenches revealed a number of features of medieval date. These included a hollow way, with probable rectilinear enclosures adjacent to it; a number of postholes suggesting structures; and a cobbled trackway with adjacent ditches and pits. The pottery from the excavated features had a date range of 12th – 15th century. Worked flint was recovered from a number of layers but no features earlier than the medieval period were found.' [1]