EDO7630 - New Dance Studio, Sandringham Sports Centre, Armada Way, Dorchester; assessment of structural engineer's test pits 2019

A site visit and archaeological observation and recording by Terrain Archaeology of two structural engineer's test pits indicated potential for survival of archaeology along the eastern edge of the site, the rest having been truncated by the construction and landscaping of the Sports Centre. Test Pit 1 was dug in the grass verge on the eastern edge of the site. Undisturbed chalk bedrock was encountered at 0.65m below present ground level, sealed by a layer of reddish-brown silty clay with frequent flint nodules at 0.5m below present ground level; the archaeologists on site noted that this soil layer is similar to the late prehistoric/Roman soil encountered on many sites in the Dorchester area. Test Pit 2 was dug in grass on the north-west part of the site. Here the upper surface of the chalk bedrock had been truncated by modern activity and survived at 0.86m below modern ground level.