EDO6324 - Hurn Court Farm, Parley Lane, Hurn, Christchurch, Phase 5; evaluation 2016

An archaeological field evaluation was commissioned by New Milton Sand and Ballast as part of the planning process. Five trenches were excavated by a 360 degree tracked machine using a toothless ditching bucket.The trenches varied from 22.8m to 26.8m long and from 0.41m to 1.17m deep. All were 2.4m wide. Four trenches contained possible or certain archaeological features. Trench 1 in the centre of the site was aligned W-E and contained a ditch at its eastern end however there were no datable artefacts. Trench 5 situated towards the south of the site was aligned SW-NE and contained a ditch at the north-east end however there were no datable artefacts. Trench 6 situated at the top eastern edge of the site was aligned SE-NW and contained a linear feature at its S-E end which was 3m wide. On excavation this was seen to be 5 gullies that appeared to represent the redefining of a boundary over time with the boundary moving eastwards. The trench also contained a pit to the north-west containing 5 sherds of Roman pottery. This cut a further pit which contained 1 sherd of prehistoric and one of Roman pottery. There were two further ditches and a pit which contained 1 sherd of Roman pottery. Trench 8 at the bottom south-east end of the site was aligned W-E contained a ditch with no datable artefacts. The prehistoric pottery was not certainly dated but may have been Early Bronze Age. The Roman pottery was Samian ware, probably locally produced. There was also some burnt flint and charcoal recovered in the soil samples.