Monument record MDO20312 - Fosters School, Tinney's Lane, Sherborne; Middle Bronze Age Activity

An archaeological evaluation at the former Foster’s School, Tinney’s Lane revealed a number of Middle Bronze Age pits, some containing burnt material. However, a subsequent open area excavation conducted by Exeter Archaeology only recorded 38 sherds of middle Bronze Age pottery, all from residual contexts. The site is predominantly characterised by Late Bronze Age pottery production and settlement.

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological desk based assessment, earthwork and geophysical survey and trench evaluation during 1995 of land adjacent to the former Foster’s School, Tinney’s Lane, Sherborne [1]. This was followed by a further evaluation during 1995 [2]. an open area excavation on the same site was later conducted by Exeter Archaeology during the summer and autumn of 2002 [3]. The evaluation by ten machine trenches provided evidence for middle Bronze Age activity in the form of a number of pit-like features, some containing Middle Bronze Age pottery and burnt material. A second stage of evaluation was subsequently carried out in order to clarify the extent and density of activity. This produced no further prehistoric deposits suggesting that the area of settlement was relatively restricted [2]. Exeter Archaeology subsequently conducted a large scale excavation on the settlement site. 'Evidence for activity of [the Middle Bronze Age] period was limited to 38 sherds of pottery recovered residually from Late Bronze Age features and spreads in Area 2. Pit 2084 contained 20 sherds, including 15 wasters, although this amounted to only 10% of the total pottery assemblage within the feature.' [3]. The area has since been developed for housing and playing fields.

Record last edited

Jul 8 2008 9:55AM