Monument record MDO28166 - Rectilinear ditch system, 19 Blandford Road, Hamworthy, Poole

Excavations at the former James Brothers site revealed a ditch system comprising a series of inter-connected and re-cut rectilinear ditched enclosures, many with rounded rather than square corners, dating to the Late Iron Age and early Roman periods. The ditches contained a moderate quantity of briquetage fragments, fired clay and charcoal, which may indicate the use of the area for the processing of salt.

A rectilinear ditch system broadly aligned NNW-SSE was recorded during evaluations by Terrain Archaeology and excavations by Wessex Archaeology on the former James Brothers site, Blandford Road, Hamworthy between 2006-9. The ditch system comprised a series of inter-connected and re-cut rectilinear ditched enclosures, many with rounded rather than square corners. A number of different phases of ditch system was evident. The ditches contained a moderate quantity of briquetage fragments, fired clay and oak charcoal, which may indicate the use of the area for the processing of salt. It is possible the ditches were used for the channelling of brine and the salt processing involving briquetage troughs. The majority of the pottery recovered dated between the Late Iron Age and early Romano-British period and incorporated a range of pottery types and fabrics representing the influence of cross channel trading.

Record last edited

Feb 27 2018 2:41PM