EDO5379 - All-weather games area, Shaftesbury School, Shaftesbury; observations and recording

An archaeological watching brief was carried out by AC archaeology during groundworks for an all-weather games area at Shaftesbury School (ST 868 223) during March 2004. The games area covered an area of approximately 0.2 ha, and is situated on ground which slopes gently to the south. Removal of topsoil onto natural (Upper Greensand) was monitored constantly. A mechanical excavator with a toothless bucket was used to remove the topsoil, which consisted of a dark greyish-brown silty clay to a depth of between 200mm and 300mm across the site. Only modern drains were recorded. Small quantities of prehistoric worked flint and medieval pottery were recovered from the topsoil.