EDO7540 - North Castle Field, Norden, Corfe Castle; observations and recording 1987

Martin Papworth of the National Trust observed a trench dug by the Wessex Water Authority to locate a faulty water pump. The trench was 2 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and 0.6 metres deep, and within the Romano-British settlement at Norden. Below the plough soil (0.15m deep) was an occupation layer on a yard surface of compacted chalk. This layer sealed an occupation layer and another yard surface laid directly on the natural sand. Roman pottery recovered was predominantly Black Burnished Ware with five fragments of Samian ware. Pottery suggested a 3rd-century date for the upper yard surface.