SDO11632 - Report on an archaeological evaluation at Redlands School, Weymouth, Dorset

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by AC archaeology in support of a planning application, by Weymouth College, to develop facilities at Redlands. The evaluation was undertaken in two phases and consisted of twenty-one machine excavated trenches and four hand dug test pits, within which were recorded a hearth/ fire pit, four ditches and a spread of demolition materials, all of Romano-British date. These results confirm the extent of the site previously identified by evaluation, and a subsequent watching brief, undertaken prior to the development of the existing all-weather pitch on the site in 1997. These earlier investigations revealed Romano-British structures, stone built drains, corn dryer, 2 burials, metalled surfaces and spreads of demolition debris. Severe modern truncation was observed across the northern part of the site, within the playing fields, and this appears to increase with depth to the west of the proposed new facilities. The evaluation has enabled a deposit model to be created indicating areas of archaeological potential in relation to the proposed new facilities. The deposit model and this report will be submitted, along with a detailed construction methodology, in support of a planning application for the new facilities.